A CASE OF FETAL MESENTERIC LYMPHANGIOMA

Objective: There are some causative diseases of fetal abdominal cysts. Among these diseases, intraabdominal cystic lymphangioma (ACL) is a v ery rare disease. We present a case of fetal mesenteric cystic lymphan gioma. Case: A well-defined anechoic cyst was found in the fetal abdom inal cavity in the 27th gestational week. At the 35th week, marked fet al intestinal dilation and ascites were noted. Cesarean section was pe rformed because of an indication of an acute abdominal condition in th e fetus. At laparotomy of the newborn, a 5-cm cystic mass was found in the mesentery of the jejunum involving a complicated volvulus. Conclu sion: There have been no reports of ACL during the antenatal period. O ur case demonstrates an ultrasonographic form of the ACL in the antena tal period and suggests that ACL originates from congenital disorders