International Medical Case Reports Journal (Jul 2022)
Lymphangioma of Colon Presenting as an Intramural Tumor
Abstract
Hong Duc Pham,1,2 The Anh Nguyen,3 Thi Giang Doan,1,2 Van Giang Bui,2,4 Thanh Van Phan-Nguyen5 1Radiology Department, Saint Paul Hospital of Ha Noi, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 2Radiology Department, Hanoi Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Huu Nghi Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Radiology Centre, National Cancer Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 5Department of Biochemistry, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamCorrespondence: Thanh Van Phan-Nguyen, Department of biochemistry, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, 2 Duong Quang Trung street, Ho Chi Minh city, 700000, Vietnam, Tel +84919691770, Email [email protected]: Lymphangiomas are rare and benign vascular malformations of the lymphatic system. They may arise in any location and at all ages and have variable presentation. These lesions in the intestinal wall are reported very rarely. In the case of colonic lymphangiomas, it is more common in late adulthood and old age, which, in this age group is thought to be associated with local disturbances of lymphatic circulation secondary to inflammation, degeneration, surgical procedure, trauma or radiation. The clinical presentation of colonic lymphangiomas varies from incidental findings on imaging to presenting with acute abdomen. The imaging features are usually multilocular cyst in intramural colon and submucosal mass on endoscopy. However, in the case of symptomatic lesions with atypical image findings, and the fact that the disease is rare, preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. On the other hand, although these cystic tumors do not transform into malignancy, they can be locally invasive or complicated, and often require resection. We report a 53-year-old male who had a cystic lymphangioma of the transverse colon illustrated by imaging modalities and recognized via postoperative histopathological examination.Keywords: cystic lymphangioma, colonic lymphangioma, submucosal tumor
