[Cystic lymphangiomas of the abdomen. CT and US findings]

Cystic lymphangiomas of the abdomen are an uncommon kind of hamartoma. Their diagnosis is often difficult and calls for an accurate differential diagnosis of this disease and such lesions as cystic pancreatic neoplasms, pseudocysts, hematomas, abscesses and urinomas. Eight cases of abdominal lymphangioma are reported, in patients ranging 35 to 68 years; all lesions were uni/multilocular containing serous fluid. Lymphangiomas were located in the retroperitoneal space (3 cases), in the mesenteric bed (3 cases), close to the left lumbar ureter (1 case), and on the left colon wall (1 case); the symptoms were little characteristic, mostly due to pressure on the adjacent organs. Both CT and US were able to detect and evaluate the lesions; in particular, CT provided also with exact topography. A small lymphangioma in the left colon was revealed only by barium enema. In 2 huge retroperitoneal lymphangiomas the diagnostic evaluation was improved by the use of CT-guided fine-needle biopsy; in patients with mesenteric lesions angiography was employed, also for surgical planning. Lymphography was never performed because CT and US proved the best diagnostic procedures. All patients underwent surgery, whose results confirmed the previous diagnosis, but for the patient with para-ureteral location the surgeon thought nephrectomy necessary.