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. 2020 Jul 29;20(1):244.
doi: 10.1186/s12876-020-01388-8.

Characteristics of adult abdominal cystic Lymphangioma: a single-center Chinese cohort of 12 cases

Jianchun Xiao  1 , Yuming Shao  2 , Shan Zhu  3 , Xiaodong He  4
Affiliations

Characteristics of adult abdominal cystic Lymphangioma: a single-center Chinese cohort of 12 cases

Jianchun Xiao et al. BMC Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: Cystic lymphangioma is a rare, benign developmental disease, mostly affecting the cervical and axial regions. The clinical features of abdominal cystic lymphangioma (ACL) are reported among pediatric patients but are less well known in adults. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the clinical characteristics of ACL in Chinese adults and describe our experience in treating this disease.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, non-interventional, retrospective study of 12 adult patients with ACL admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, China from November 1984 through August 2017. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, histopathologic, and therapeutic data were collected.

Results: Detailed information on seven males and five females was available. The mean age at diagnosis was 39.1 (SD 17.3) years. The mean duration of follow-up was 6.9 years. Six (50%) patients were asymptomatic, and abdominal pain was the leading symptom for three (25%) patients. The cysts were evaluated by ultrasound (n = 8, 67%), CT (n = 10, 83%), and MRI (n = 4, 33%). Therapeutic modalities include laparotomy (n = 6, 50%), laparoscopy (n = 4, 33%), and aspiration (n = 2, 17%), with variable outcomes. The mean postsurgical hospital stay was 6.8 days. Complete excision was accomplished in eight patients, and one recurrence was observed during follow-up. Of patients who underwent partial resection, one experienced disease relapse.

Conclusions: This is the first report on an Asian cohort of adult patients with ACL. Typical imaging features could lead to timely diagnosis and treatment of ACL. Radical resection is recommended with a longer period of follow-up. The analysis of this cohort deepens our understanding of adult ACL.

Keywords: Abdominal cystic lymphangioma; Adult; Cystic lymphangioma; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CT scans of Chinese adult patients with ACL. A. ACL close to left renal pelvis of case no. 11 (red arrow).B. ACL between spleen and stomach of case no. 3 (red arrow). C. ACL between aorta and left kidney in three-dimensional CT reconstruction of case no. 12 (red arrow). ACL, abdominal cystic lymphangioma; CT, computed tomography
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
MRI of Chinese adult patients with ACL. A. Low signal in T1WI sequence of MRI of case no. 3 (red arrow). B. High signal in T2WI sequence of MRI of case no. 3 (red arrow). ACL, abdominal cystic lymphangioma; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; T1WI, T1-weighted image; T2WI, T2-weighted image
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
CT reconstruction and intraoperative images of a mesenteric ACL. A. ACL of mesentery in three-dimensional CT reconstruction of case no. 9 (red arrow). B. ACL in mesentery (red arrow). C. Root of mesenteric ACL (red arrow). D. Clear fluid in mesenteric ACL (red arrow). ACL, abdominal cystic lymphangioma; CT, computed tomography
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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