Abdominal cystic lymphangiomas in children. Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects based on a series of 21 cases.

Twenty-one abdominal cystic lymphangiomas were observed in paediatric patie nts during a 15-year period, in 11 boys and 10 girls. Diagnosis was prenata l in 2 cases; the mean age of the other 19 children was 4.7 years (range : 3 months - 8 years). Tumours were intraperitoneal in 16 cases and retroperi toneal in 5 cases. Symptoms were variable: abdominal pain in 15 cases, palp able tumour in 6 cases (excluding the two cases of prenatal diagnosis). Com plications included obstruction in 7 cases (including 3 by volvulus), infec tion in 6 cases, and intracystic haemorrhage in a cases. Abdominal ultrason ography correctly established the diagnosis in all children. Surgical treat ment included 20 complete resections and one incomplete resection, includin g 6 with bowel resections. With a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 10 yea rs, one recurrence occurred and was successfully reoperated. Intraabdominal cystic lymphangioma in childhood is a rare tumour with a variable presenta tion. An accurate diagnosis can be established by abdominal ultrasound. Com plete resection should be performed whenever possible.