Cutaneous lymphangioma

Abstract

Cutaneous lymphangiomas from 158 patients were studied clinically and pathologically. Lymphangiomas show a predilection for the neck and axilla, breasts and chest, and buttocks and thighs, but may occur on almost any area of skin. They show highest incidence of onset in infancy, the majority are present by age 5 years, but they may appear spontaneously in adolescence or adult life. No correlation among cutaneous lymphangioma, mucous membrane lymphangioma, internal lymphangioma, or lymphangiosarcoma was found. No familial histories of lymphangioma were elicited. Single surgical excision cured 75% of cutaneous lymphangiomas and reexcision cured an additional 12%. The cutaneous lymphangiomas are divided into superficial "lymphangioma circumscriptum" and deep "lymphangioma cavernosum." No specific histologic criteria could be found to differentiate lymphangioma from "bloodless" hemangioma, primary from secondary lymphangioma (lymphangiectasia), or cystic cavernous lymphangoma from cystic hygroma.

Lymphangioma Mimicking Apical Periodontitis

“…However, it is a rare finding in adult patients, especially among the elderly (20). According to some authors, occurrence in adult life is significantly lower than in infancy (21), and the most common type in adult life is superficial cutaneous lymphangioma (lymphangioma circumscriptum) (22,23). Although they might affect almost any part of the body served by the lymphatic system, they have a particular predilection for the head, neck, and axilla, sites that account for nearly three fourths of all lymphangiomas.…”

Cystic lymphangioma of the breast in a 6-year-old boy

“…The lymphatics of the breast communicate with the lymphatic plexus of overlying skin, especially around the nipple and in the subareolar plexus [3]. In adults, when the nipple and areola are well developed, breast lymphangiomas are usually superficial and called lymphangioma circumscriptum [17].…”

Giant cystic lymphangioma cavernousum of lower limb with overlying lymphangioma circumscriptum

“…Although traditionally lymphangiomas have been divided into many groups-simplex, diffuse, cavernous, cystic, circumscriptum and acquired-classification of lymphangiomas is confusing and sometimes contradictory [1,2,4,9]. The diversity of clinical types depends on the size of the vessels involved, site, size and depth of the lesion, but does not reflect any basic difference in the pathological process.…”

“…Individual lesions may contain all lymphangioma types, so some authors consider them as a single group of lesions [2]. The classifications of Flanagan and Helwig [9] recognized only two basic forms: the superficial lymphangioma circumscriptum and the deep lymphangioma cavernosum, which may be cystic. Most large superficial lymphangiomas have a significant, deep component of dilated lymphatic cisterna occurring near the deep fascia, which is in accordance with our case [9][10][11].…”