Unusual location and complication of a cystic lymphangioma: A case report

This paper reports an uncommon location and complication of a cystic lymphangioma. Few cases of infected colonic cystic lymphangioma were described in literature. Symptoms are non-specific and setting the diagnosis on radiological features remain challenging. Urgent open surgery is generally required for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

We describe a case of a young man who presented with an acute abdomen mimicking bile peritonitis, infected tumor of the colon or even a complicated hydatid disease of the liver, which is endemic in our country. CT-scan was compulsory to suspect the diagnosis of infected cystic lymphangioma but remained insufficient to rule out other more frequent diagnoses. The patient underwent an emergency open surgery consisting in a bowel resection, in whose case an infected cystic lymphangioma was barely suspected preoperatively but confirmed by the pathological examination of the specimen. No postoperative complications were noticed.

Setting the diagnosis of an infected cystic lymphangioma of the colon is tough. Many differential diagnoses are more frequently suspected and radiological examinations can be helpful. However, an emergency surgery is mandatory in order to avoid septic shock and resect the lesion, sometimes at the cost of bowel resection. Laparoscopic or endoscopic treatments are feasible but are not the standard in emergency cases.

Acute presentation of cystic lymphangioma of the colon is very scarce and can be life-threatening leading to urgent open surgery, although endoscopic or laparoscopic treatment remain feasible. Further studies are needed to select which technique is suitable for this disorder.