[The clinical and morphological aspects of childhood lymphangiomas: a review of 145 cases].
Lymphangiomas are very common lesions of vascular origin. They arise in any organ or soft tissue and can be the cause of complications during childhood.


OBJECTIVE
We have revised the clinical and morphological features of 145 lymphangiomas in children from birth to 16 years of age.


METHODS
We have reviewed the clinical findings and the secondary complications of these benign tumors. We have performed a microscopic study of all specimens.


RESULTS
In our study population, lymphangiomas were most frequent during the first year of life, most commonly arising on the head, neck and axilla. Lymphangiomas are divided into cavernous, cystic (cystic hygroma) and mixed. They are composed of lymphatic channels of variable size and have a tendency to occur between the tissue layers.


CONCLUSIONS
Most important complications are related to the location and large size. The intra-abdominal lymphangiomas caused intestinal obstruction. The lymphangiomas in the tongue caused macroglossia. The local recurrence are is 6% for incomplete excision in cases of complicated surgery. The pathologist should examine the surgical margin.
Gimeno Aranguez
M
M
Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Canto Blanco, Madrid.
Colomar Palmer
P
P
González Mediero
I
I
Ollero Caprani
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001132:Arm; D001365:Axilla; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007866:Leg; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies