Lymphangiomas in children: MR imaging.

Abstract

Seventeen lymphangiomas in 15 patients were imaged with magnetic resonance (MR) to define the nature, extent, and anatomic relationships of these lesions. The MR and pathologic findings were then compared to determine the histologic basis for the signal-intensity characteristics of these lesions. The signal intensity of 13 lesions was similar to or slightly less than that of muscle on T1-weighted images and greater than that of fat on T2-weighted images. This appearance correlated with the presence of ectatic lymphatic channels containing clear fluid on histologic section. Four lymphangiomas had high signal intensity, approximately equal to that of fat, on T1-weighted images, reflecting the presence of clotted blood or small cystic spaces with a higher ratio of fat to fluid. Sixteen of 17 lesions had visible septations on MR images. The authors' experience suggests that most lymphangiomas have a characteristic appearance on MR images. The information obtained with MR imaging can help in providing a preoperative diagnosis, in planning surgical resection, and in defining recurrence.

Thoracic lymphangioma in adults: CT and MR imaging features.

“…Description of the MR features of the tumors is limited to pediatric cases, none of which were mediastinal in location [7]. Because the preoperative diagnosis in adults can be difficult, we retrospectively reviewed 19 pathologically proved cases of adult thoracic lymphangioma in which CT scans or MR images were available in order to describe the spectrum of imaging features of this tumor.…”

Biological classification of soft-tissue vascular anomalies: MR correlation.

“…MR imaging has proved useful for delineating the extent of vascular anomalies when applied to artemiovenous malfommations (AVM5) [1] on lymphatic malformations [2]. However, the term hemangioma is often used generically, and in the past has been used to describe a combination of infantile hemangiomata and venous malformations with confusing radiologic findings [3].…”

A Rare Case Report of Lymphangioma on Scalp

“…[4] About 75% of lymphangiomas occur in the neck and 20% in the axillary region [1,5,6,3] in a small number of cases; other locations including the mediastinum, retroperitoneum, oral cavity, mesentery, bones and orbit have been reported. [5,7,8,6] The sexes are affected equally. [5] Usually these tumours present as easily compressible.…”

“…[9,7] At birth 50% are present and 90% are evident by two years of age. [6] Clinically, they may rarely bleed spontaneously. [10] Although, lymphangioma is a benign tumour, its infiltrative tendency enables it to grow along tissue planes.…”

“…[5,7] Histologically, lymphangiomas have been classified into three types: lymphangioma circumscriptum (Papular angiokeratoma), classical lymphangioma circumscriptum (Angiokeratoma circumscriptum) and cavernous lymphangioma (Hygroma or cavernous haemangioma). [1,9,11,12,6] In the past, different kinds of therapy such as aspiration and injection of sclerosing agents were applied to these tumours. [13,7] Radiotherapy is unsatisfactory and is no longer used because of its failure to completely damage the tumour, but if total removal fails radiation may be indicated.…”