Cystic lymphangioma of the kidney: Diagnosis and management

Cystic lymphangioma is a rare benign vascular tumor that may arise in various sites, revealed at any age. Abdominal locations represent less than 10% of the cases preferentially involving the mesentery. We report a case of primary lymphangioma arising from the kidney.

A 50-year-old woman was admitted for severe left lumbar pain. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a 6×10 cm multiloculated cystic mass with hydronephrosis, extending along the left renal hilum. Surgical exploration revealed a retroperitoneal cystic tumor. Anatomopathologic examination concluded it to be a cystic lymphangioma.

The cystic lymphangioma is a benign malformative tumor of the lymphatic system. Surgery is the best curative treatment with complete excision, the prognosis is excellent.

Primary renal lymphangioma is exceedingly rare. Medical imaging has certain limits for the diagnosis which required histological confirmation. The treatment of choice is surgical.