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. 2009 Nov 9:3:111.
doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-3-111.

Pediatric chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst - a separate entity from cystic lymphangioma: a case series

Kamal Nayan Rattan  1 , Vimoj J Nair, Manish Pathak, Sanjay Kumar
Affiliations

Pediatric chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst - a separate entity from cystic lymphangioma: a case series

Kamal Nayan Rattan et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Introduction: Chylolymphatic mesenteric cysts are rare entities with variable presentations and this has surgical implications in the pediatric age group.

Case presentation: We carried out a retrospective analysis of the clinical and histopathological records of pediatric patients diagnosed and treated for chylolymphatic mesenteric cysts at our institute from 1998 to 2008. Eight patients met the histopathological criteria of chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst. These patients were in the age range 18 months to 10 years with a mean age of 4.5 years. Of these eight patients, four presented with an abdominal lump, and two each with abdominal pain and acute intestinal obstruction. On clinical examination, five out of the eight patients had a palpable abdominal mass. Laparotomy and complete excision of the cyst along with the involved gut was performed in all patients. There were no postoperative complications or any recurrence during the follow-up period which ranged from 4 months to 8 years.

Conclusion: Although very rare, chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst should be kept in mind as one of the differential diagnoses of cystic masses of the abdomen including cystic lymphangioma. Ultrasonography and computed tomography suggest the diagnosis but histopathological examination is required for confirmation. Complete excision of the cyst yields excellent results.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pediatric chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst. Resected specimen of pediatric chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst showing multiloculated cyst along with resected gut.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pediatric chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst, histopathologic image. Microphotograph showing cyst wall with endothelial lining and chylous fluid (hematoxylin and eosin stain ×100).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pediatric chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst. Resected specimen of multiloculated chylolymphatic mesenteric cyst mimicking lymphoma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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