[Cystic retroperitoneal lymphangioma: a tumor of polymorphic clinical manifestations. Apropos of three cases].
BACKGROUND
Cystic retroperitoneal lymphangioma is a rare benign tumor with varied clinical presentation.


METHODS
Case 1. A girl was born at term after ultrasonography had shown a cystic abdominal mass by 31 weeks of GA. This mass, clinically palpable at birth, was found again by ultrasonography. Surgical excision on day 3 was incomplete, requiring a second excision at the age of 2 months, followed by persistence of the cyst near the bladder; the patient was asymptomatic at the age of 2 years. Case 2. This full-term female newborn was admitted because of jaundice and pallor. Examination showed a firm mass of the left flank that was confirmed by X-rays and ultrasonography. Despite blood transfusion, anemia persisted, requiring surgery that showed a cystic hemorrhagic mass that was voided. A second partial excision was performed a few weeks later and, at the age of 7 months, ultrasonography showed a few small cystic masses behind the left kidney. Case 3. A 16-month-old boy was operated on for right inguinal hernia. The hernial sac contained fluid and its wall was thick. Ultrasonography and CT scan performed 3 days later were normal. The child was examined again 28 months later because he suffered from abdominal pain; a large mass was palpable in the right flank that appeared cystic at ultrasonography and CT scan. A retroperitoneal lymphangioma was completely excised.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the risk of complications is apparently high, surgical treatment is always necessary. In the newborn period, complete excision is difficult, requiring delayed surgery.
Ravasse
P
P
Service de chirurgie pédiatrique, CHU Côte-de-Nacre, Caen, France.
Le Treust
M
M
Levesque
C
C
Guillois
B
B
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
Le lymphangiome kystique rétropéritonéal: une tumeur d'expression clinique très polymorphe. A propos de trois cas.