Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma in adults: a rare entity presenting as acute abdomen - a report of two cases

Tanvi Jha; Monika Sharma; Arvind Ahuja

doi:10.4322/acr.2024.470

Clinical Case Report

Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma in adults: a rare entity presenting as acute abdomen - a report of two cases

Tanvi Jha; Monika Sharma; Arvind Ahuja

http://dx.doi.org/10.4322/acr.2024.470 Autops Case Rep, vol.14, e2024470, 2024

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Abstract

Lymphangiomas are rare benign tumors that mainly involve the head and neck region in pediatric patients. Lymphangiomas of the small bowel mesentery in adults are rarer. We present two cases of mesenteric lymphangioma with acute abdominal pain on presentation. Case 1: A 38-year-old female presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, and difficult evacuation. On abdominal examination, she had an ill-defined, tender lump, and radiological findings raised a possibility of perforation peritonitis. Thus, exploratory laparotomy was planned. Per-operatively, a mesenteric mass was found, which, on histopathological evaluation, was found to be a mesenteric lymphangioma involving the bowel. Case 2: A 27-year-old male presented with abdominal pain and difficult evacuation. Radiological evaluation revealed a multilobulated lesion involving the mesentery and with differential diagnoses of mesenteric fibromatoses and inflammatory pseudotumor. Histopathological assessment of the resected mass revealed a lymphangioma that was limited to the mesentery. Owing to their rarity and non-specific presentation, mesenteric lymphangiomas are often misdiagnosed on clinical examination and imaging. Thus, histopathological examination is the gold standard to reach a definitive diagnosis.

Keywords

Abdomen, Acute, Adult, Lymphangioma, Mesentery, Lymphatics

References

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Submitted date:
12/03/2023

Accepted date:
01/08/2024

Publication date:
02/08/2024

Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma in adults: a rare entity presenting as acute abdomen - a report of two cases

Tanvi Jha; Monika Sharma; Arvind Ahuja

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