Thoracoscopic excision of an intrathoracic para-cardiac lymphangioma of a child

Abstract

A three year old boy was incidentally detected to have a right intrathoracic cystic mass while being investigated for an anterior abdominal wall lymphangioma. The intrathoracic mass was located in the costo pericardial recess very closely related to pericardium. He didn't have symptoms related to the thoracic mass and the imaging characteristics were evident of an intrathoracic lymphangioma. Since it was closely related to pericardium, radiologically guided sclerotherapy was not considered as a treatment. Thoracoscopic excision of the mass was done and he recovered uneventfully. Intrathoracic lymphangioma is a rare congenital lymphatic anomaly which needs definitive surgical treatment to prevent future complications. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic excision is a viable treatment option in children with intrathoracic lymphangioma.

Keywords

• Thoracic cystic lymphangioma
• Thoracoscopy
• VATS
• Children