Overview of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare disorder caused primarily by compression of the celiac trunk by the median arcuate ligament (MAL). This disorder typically results in patients presenting with bloating, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The MALS diagnosis is one of exclusion, as the disorder has no specific diagnostic criteria. Imaging modalities are often utilized to assist in making the diagnosis, such as ultrasound, computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). These imaging modalities typically reveal a stenosed celiac artery with post-stenotic dilation in patients. This disorder is usually treated by dividing the MAL, thus relieving the compression of the celiac artery. The surgery may be done through either an open approach or a minimally invasive approach, which can be either laparoscopic or robot-assisted. Most patients respond well to this treatment, though certain factors that predict a poorer response to treatment include elderly age, a history of alcohol abuse, and psychiatric illness.