Kaposiform Lymphangiomatosis as a Cause of Vaginal Bleeding & Discharge: A Case Report

J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2024 Dec;37(6):625-628. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2024.06.005. Epub 2024 Jun 25.

Abstract

Background: Prepubertal vaginal bleeding is a common presentation for pediatric adolescent gynecologists with a broad differential diagnosis that historically may not have included complex lymphatic anomalies. However, given recent consensus criteria and imaging capabilities, this may be a condition that pediatric adolescent gynecologists see more frequently in the future.

Case: We present a case of a 5-year-old pre-pubertal girl whose only presenting symptoms of a rare complex lymphatic anomaly was copious vaginal bleeding. After three vaginoscopies, two hysteroscopies, two pelvic MRIs, and a percutaneous ultrasound guided core needle biopsy, this patient was eventually diagnosed with Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis at age 9 years-old, and she is now being treated medically with sirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, with improvement in her symptoms.

Summary and conclusion: Complex lymphatic anomalies should be considered after initial and secondary workups for pre-pubertal vaginal bleeding or copious vaginal discharge are negative. Furthermore, this case illustrates the value of pelvic MRI in the setting of unknown cause of vaginal bleeding when typical workup is negative.

Keywords: Complex lymphatic anomaly; Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis; Nras; Prepubertal vaginal bleeding.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome / complications
  • Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / complications
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / diagnosis
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / diagnostic imaging
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / drug therapy
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use
  • Uterine Hemorrhage* / etiology
  • Vaginal Discharge / etiology

Substances

  • Sirolimus