[A cystic mesenteric lymphangioma presented at the colon sigmoid. Case report]

Abstract

Background: Cystic lymphangioma of the mesentery is an uncommon tumor; its incidence is 1:160,000. Our objective was to present the case of a patient with cystic lymphangioma of mesentery located at the colon.

Clinical case: Female 25 years, attending consultation with a clinical picture suggestive of right ovarian cyst and increased abdominal perimeter. On physical examination abdominal painful tumor was identified, with deep palpation and mobilization. Abdominal ultrasound findings suggested giant right ovarian cyst. Laparotomy showed a cystic mass (18 x 11 cm size) depending mesenterium and involving sigmoid colon, surgical intervention was done after two days for bowel preparation. Resection of the cyst, and colon section involving sigmoid colon with termino-terminal anastomosis, was performed. The pathological report was: cystic lymphangioma of sigmoid mesentery. There was no recurrence at six month follow up.

Conclusions: Cystic lymphangioma of the mesentery is a benign abdominal tumor, which occurs frequently in children but in adults is rare. We found 49 cases of mesenteric cysts reported in Mexico, of which 21 were lymphangiomas with a range of 1 to 73 years of age.