Laparoscopic resection of abdominal cystic lymphangioma derived from lesser omentum: Case report

Cystic lymphangiomas are uncommon congenital malformations that originate from lymphatic channels. Lymphangiomas frequently appear in the head, neck, and axillary regions of children. Abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are extremely rare, having a reported incidence of 1 in 20,000 to 250,000.

A 50-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with a cough that had persisted for several weeks. Abdominal ultrasonography incidentally revealed a multilocular cystic lesion in the lesser curvature of the stomach.

Preoperative findings indicated that the lesion was cystic lymphangioma. However, the possibility of a pancreatic tumor could not be completely excluded.

Laparoscopy revealed a multilocular cyst in the lesser curvature of the stomach. The gastrocolic ligament was divided, and the body and tail of the pancreas was exposed in the omental bursa, showing that the cystic lesion was not derived from the pancreas but from the lesser omentum. Although it was located directly beside the left gastric artery, the cyst was enucleated and totally resected laparoscopically without sacrificing the artery.

The cystic lesion was histopathologically diagnosed as an abdominal cystic lymphangioma originating from the lesser omentum. The patient was discharged on the postoperative day 4 without complications.

Preoperative imaging cannot completely distinguish abdominal cystic lymphangiomas from other types of cystic tumors. Because cystic lymphangiomas have the potential to grow, invade vital structures, and develop life-threatening complications, laparoscopic assessment followed by total resection is considered a useful treatment strategy for peripancreatic cystic lesions.