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. 2022 Aug 19:81:104460.
doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104460. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma in adults: A case series of 32 patients and literature review

Houcine Maghrebi  1   2 , Chaima Yakoubi  1   2 , Hazem Beji  1   2 , Feryel Letaief  3   2 , Sadok Megdich  1   2 , Amin Makni  1   2 , Seif Boukriba  4   2 , Wassim Frikha  4   2 , Mouna Ayadi  3   2 , Montasser Kacem  1   2
Affiliations

Intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma in adults: A case series of 32 patients and literature review

Houcine Maghrebi et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

Introduction: Cystic lymphangioma (CL) is a benign tumor originating from the lymph vessels. Lymphangiomas in the abdominal cavity are extremely rare, particularly in adults.This article was designed to study the epidemiological, diagnostic difficulties, and therapeutic principles of intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma (ACL) in adults.

Material and methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of 32 adult patients with ACL admitted to surgical department "A" in "La Rabta Hospital" in Tunis, from January 1998 through December 2020. The demographic, clinical, biological, radiological characteristics, histopathologic, and therapeutic data were collected, as well as the surgical intervention used and the postoperative immediate and late complications.

Results: Thirty-two adult patients with ACL were recruited, including 20 females and 12 males. The median age at treatment was 47 (range 14-80) years. The most prevalent sites were the retroperitoneum (25%), the mesentery (21.9%), and the paracolic gutters (n = 18. 7%). Twenty patients underwent open surgery (62.5%), whereas 12 cases (37.5%) had laparoscopic surgery. Twenty-eight patients received total cystectomy (87%). Three recurrences were observed during follow-up (9.4%).

Conclusion: The clinical features of CL in adults remain unclear. The diagnosis is only confirmed by histopathological examination after complete surgical resection. The laparoscopic approach is considered safe and feasible.

Keywords: Abdominal; Benign tumors; Cystic lymphangioma; Surgical resection.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CT scan showing ACL of the right paracolic gutter (arrow).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Laparoscopic view of ACL of the right paracolic gutter.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
ACL after total cystectomy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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