To the Editor: An article concerning the superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) appeared in the July issue of the Journal of Diseases of Children (Hyde, J. S.: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome, Amer J Dis Child 106:25, 1963). We should like to interject a word of caution concerning the diagnosis and point out the need for further studies and controlled series related to this "abnormality."
Numerous papers have been written concerning the so-called superior mesenteric artery syndrome. There are a considerable number of clinicians and radiologists who question the validity of this as a distinct entity or believe that, if it exists, it is extremely rare. Unfortunately, the skeptics have not been very vocal with their objections. The skepticism is based on the observation, that, although the results of varying surgical procedures have altered the roentgenographic appearance of the duodenum, some patients have had recurrence of identical symptoms. In other patients,