title: Lymphangioma of the forearm and hand.
abstract: Cases of cavernous lymphangioma of the forearm and hand were reviewed in five female and four male patients. The tumor was first observed at a median age of 2 weeks, and tissue diagnosis confirmed at a median of 1.75 years. At a median follow-up of 11 years, all patients were symptomatic, describing pain when the affected area was bumped, pain with use, swelling, and extremity weakness. Five patients had experienced a previously undescribed episodic pain syndrome of simultaneous pain, swelling, induration, erythema, and fever. All cases responded favorably to elevation, analgesics, and antibiotics. Nine patients underwent a total of 18 operative procedures, including incisional biopsy, excisional biopsy, and excision of recurrent tumor, with a 33% complication rate. In only one case did surgery eliminate a small superficial tumor of the thumb; all other patients had recurrence of the tumor. Following attempted excision of cavernous lymphangioma of the forearm and hand, tumor recurrence, hypertrophic scars, and persistence of symptoms may be anticipated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery*; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016038:Skin Transplantation