[Intestinal lymphangiectasis in adults]

Although rarely, several conditions may cause malabsorption through lymphatic obstruction. Primary lymphangiectasia, a genetically determined disease characterized by diarrhoea, steatorrhoea and protein-losing enteropathy, is one of these conditions. The Authors report their experience in three cases of small bowel lymphangiectasia occurring in adults and discuss diagnostic and therapeutic problems of the disease.