Fact-sheet: Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma
Updated on 11/19/2017 at 10:26 PM
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Definition
Cystic lymphangioma is a rare benign tumor of lymphatic origin.
Intra-abdominal location is rarer than craniofacial, cervical, or axillary location. Among intra-abdominal forms, mesenteric cystic lymphangioma is the most common.
Clinical features
Nonspecific
- palpable mass in 25 to 50%
- recurrent abdominal pain
- complication: superinfection - hemorrhage.
Often an incidental finding
Ultrasound
Uni- or multilocular, hypoechoic mass, sometimes heterogeneous due to fibrous septa on ultrasound
CT
Homogeneous hypodense mass, without contrast enhancement
Location: root of the mesentery
MRI
- assesses perivascular extension
- fluid content of the mass with T1 hypointensity and T2 hyperintensity
- cystic septa appearing hypointense on both sequences
Management
Definitive diagnosis = histology (innumerable vascular spaces whose walls are reduced to an endothelial surface lined externally by fibroelastic connective tissue).
Treatment: surgical resection.
Frequent recurrence