surgeon:
Mark Pleatman, MD
Small bowel lymphangioma
The patient was an 8-year old boy suspected of having appendicitis. The tumor of the bowel was exteriorized and resected. The pathology showed acute inflammation in the dilated lymphatic channels.
Lymphangioma of the mesentery is a rare benign cystic tumor of the lymphatics of the bowel.
It arises from developmental defects in the mesenteric where fluid is being collected in small closed spaces.
Most of the times this tumors are multiloculated, have an endothelial lining, and contain a not very clear fluid similar to chyle.
As many others benign tumors of the mesentery it is found peripherally, near the intestine. Malignant tumors such as lymphoangiosarcoma, malignant teratoma, liposarcoma etc., are found near the root of the mesentery.
This type of “benign condition” can have local invasion with mechanical compression of adjacent viscera. Therefore, surgical excision of the tumor including the segment of the bowel involved is the only treatment for this kind of condition.
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