GASTROINTESTINAL-BLEEDING AND PROTEIN-LOS ING ENTEROPATHY DUE TO CYSTIC LYMPHANGIOMA OF THE DUODENUM

Cystic lymphangioma is a rare and benign congenital lesion of the lymp hatic system, which can become manifest at any age. Intra-abdominal cy sts are found in less than 10 % of cases and mesenteric involvement is the most common. The case of a patient with intra-abdominal cystic ly mphangioma that involved the liver, the spleen, the kidney and the sma ll intestine, and complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding and protein losing enteropathy is reported herein. Despite severe gastro-intestin al manifestations, spontaneous outcome was favorable. This observation suggests that a) duodenal cystic lymphangioma must be considered as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding and of protein losing enteropathy, b) conservative treatment can be proposed.