[Wilkie's syndrome as the cause of stomach pain in a young woman].

Wilkie's syndrome is a rare condition in which a decreased angle and distance between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta causes a compression of the third part of the duodenum, resulting ultimately in gastric dilation, gastric rupture and acute ischaemia of the bowel. The early symp-toms are those of duodenal obstruction. It is clinically char-acteristic, easily recognised on diagnostic imaging and is treated either conservatively or surgically. Although rare, Wilkie's syndrome is associated with severe morbidity, and should be considered in patients presenting with abdominal pain.