Cystic lymphangioma of the gall‐bladder: A case report

Abstract

Intra-abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are rare lesions that can be difficult to diagnose. We present a report of a patient with a giant multilocular cystic lesion in the abdomen. Ultrasonography and computed tomography scans of the abdomen revealed that the cyst had originated in the gall-bladder fossa. There was some calcification and thickening of the cyst wall. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography demonstrated a medially deviated common bile duct, an elongated cystic duct and an inferior compressed gallbladder. There was no apparent communication between the cyst and the biliary tract; however, an abdominal angiogram revealed that the lesion was supplied by a branch of the cystic artery. Histological findings obtained intra-operatively were consistent with a cystic lymphangioma. Its characteristic histology was observed in the subserous layer of the gall-bladder. This case is a rare instance of a cystic lymphangioma originating in the gall-bladder.

Gallbladder lymphangioma: a case report and review of the literature

“…5 CT typically shows a simple or multiloculated cystic lesion with the density of water. 5 The wall of the cyst will be enhanced with an intravenous contrast injection. Similarly, with MRI, simple or multiloculated cystic lesions are seen.…”

“…Only two cases of lymphangiomas arising from the gallbladder have been reported. 5,6 Patients are usually asymptomatic until the mass enlarges to cause compression and the displacement of adjacent organs. 7 Imaging of the abdomen using ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to aid in the diagnosis of abdominal lymphangioma.…”

“…Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) (Figs. [2][3][4][5] showed an amorphous structure of fluid attenuation engulfing the gallbladder and extending into the liver hilum around the cystic duct and hepatic artery. The lesion was traversed by filamentous, poorly enhancing septations.…”

Gallbladder lymphangioma: A case report and review of the literature

“…It more commonly involves the skin and soft tissue of the head and neck (95%), and lymphangioma occurring in the gastrointestinal tract is rare. A lymphangioma arising from the gallbladder is extremely rare, representing only 0.8%-1% of all intraabdominal lymphangiomas [1][2][3][4][5] , and only a few cases have been reported. Lymphangiomas are classified as simple, cavernous, and cystic types based on their histological findings [3,6,[9][10][11] .…”

“…Lymphangiomas are uncommon benign congenital malformations of the lymphatic system [1][2][3] . About 95% lymphangiomas occur in the skin and the subcutaneous tissues of the head, neck and axillary region and the remaining 5% appear in other parts of the body such as lungs, pleura, pericardium, esophagus, stomach, jejunum, colon, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and the mesentery [3][4][5] .…”