Cystic lymphangioma of the jejunal mesentery in an adult: A case report

Abstract

We herein describe the case of a 27-year-old female, who presented with a large mass of the upper left abdominal cavity discovered incidentally, through an annual health examination. Preoperative studies including abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed, but they could not accurately determine the nature of the tumor. At laparotomy, a large cystic tumor of the small bowel mesentery was found. Histopathologic examination diagnosed the tumor as a cystic lymphangioma. Although lymphangiomas are rare, especially in the abdomen of adults, they may sometimes present as acute abdomen, causing complications that require emergent surgery.

Cavernous mesenteric lymphangiomatosis mimicking metastasis in a patient with rectal cancer: A case report

“…The macroscopic appearance of lymphangioma is a cystic mass with partial septations and its histological characteristics are endothelial-lined, dilated, communicating lymphatic channels containing a variable amount of connective tissue and smooth muscle fiber [5,7] . Lymphangiomas are generally classified as simple capillary, cavernous, and cystic according to the size of lymphatic space and the nature of the lymphatic wall [8,9] . Cavernous lymphangioma is composed of dilated lymphatic vessels and lymphoid stroma and is connected with the adjacent normal lymphatics.…”

Mesenteric Lymphangioma with Small Intestinal Volvulus in an Adult

“…Some researchers have proposed intracystic injections of sclerosing agents for non-resectable lesions, when radical resection might be technically impossible [8]. Rarely, mesenteric lymphangioma can cause fatal complications, such as volvulus or involvement of the main branch of the mesenteric arteries requiring emergency surgery, particularly in adults [6]. In the present case, small bowel and its mesentery are twisted around the stalk of the mass, but resolved spontaneously during the operation.…”

“…Findings of cystic lymphangioma are similar to those of cavernous lymphangioma in that dilated lymphatic spaces of various sizes are seen in both [5]. However, cystic lymphangioma is not always clearly differentiated from the cavernous type because the cystic type may also contain cavernous areas [6]. Lymphangioma can also be classified as microcystic, macrocystic, and mixed based on cyst size.…”

“…Lymphangiomas are traditionally classified into capillary (simple), cavernous, and cystic types [6]. Findings of cystic lymphangioma are similar to those of cavernous lymphangioma in that dilated lymphatic spaces of various sizes are seen in both [5].…”

An unusual cause of paediatric abdominal pain: Mesenteric masses accompanied with volvulus

“…The most common cystic mesenteric masses is lymphangioma (11). It appears to result from congenital malformation of lymphatic vessels rather than a true lymphatic tumour (12,13) and accounts for half of mesenteric cystic masses, with an incidence of 1/200,000 in the United States (10,14).…”