Lymphangioma and lymphangiomatosis: the contribution of imaging studies. Areview of ten cases.

Cystic lymphangioma is a congenital neoplasm seen in children and young adu lts. Means of achieving the diagnosis are reviewed with reference to ten ca ses. Nine patients had a localized lesion involving the orbit (n=1), neck ( n=1), mediastinum (n=2), neck and mediastinum (n=1), pancreas (n=2), mesent ery (n=1), or spleen (n=1). The remaining patient had diffuse involvement o f the mediastinum, thoracic and abdominal wall, retroperitoneum, and mesent ery. Based on these ten cases and on previously published data, the clinico pathologic characteristics of these lesions are reviewed and the contributi on of imaging studies to the diagnosis is discussed. Computed tomography (C T) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) show both the monomorphic and polym orphic forms of cystic lymphangioma. MRI is particularly valuable for deter mining the extent of the lesion, especially as some of these tumors infiltr ate neighboring tissues. Aspiration under ultrasound or CT guidance, if pos itive, adds considerably to the diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma.