Mesenteric cystic lymphangiomas--a report of five cases

Five cases of cystic lymphangiomas are described. There were three children and two adult patients. Age ranged from 4 to 38 years. All the patients presented with pain abdomen. On examination, four out of five patients were found to have an ill defined lump abdomen. One patient had no abdominal symptoms. Abdominal ultrasonography done in all the cases revealed the cystic nature of the tumour thereby making the pre operative diagnosis easier. A histological diagnosis of cystic mesenteric lymphangioma was made in each case. Although mesenteric lymphangiomas are rare, they should be considered as a possible cause of acute abdomen, both in children and adults.