Objective: Our aim was to assess the epidemiological particularities, the circumstances of the diagnosis and the therapeutic indications of the cystic lymphangioma of the abdominal spaces.
Methods: Our retrospective and analytic survey concerns 11 cases of cystic lymphangioma of the abdominal spaces: mesentere 6 cases, epiploon 1 case, retroperitoneum 3 cases and under peritoneum 1 case. The incidence was of 1/2476 hospitalizations (0.04%).
Results: The median age was 28 years. The sex-ratio was of 1.2. The main circumstance of discovery of the cystic lymphangioma was an abdominal mass in 7 cases. The other circumstances were: a pseudoappendicular syndrome, an ascitis, a disembowelment and a direct traumatism of the abdomen. Total resection of the cystic lymphangioma was performed in 7 cases. In 4 cases a simple enucleation and in 3 cases a resection of a segment of the organ that supports the lymphangioma. Only a partial resection of the lymphangioma has been achieved for the remnant patient. A cystic lymphangioma relapsed 13 years after a total resection in one case. Mortality rate was nul.
Conclusion: The circumstances of diagnosis of the cystic lymphangioma were in relation with the volume of the tumor or a mechanical, infectious or hemorrhagic complications. The recidivism after a total resection let evoke the possibility of multiple and diffuse cystic lymphangioma.