title: [Abdominal cystic lymphangiomas in children. Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects: apropos of 21 cases].
abstract: Twenty-one abdominal cystic lymphangiomas were observed in paediatric patients during a 15-year period, in 11 boys and 10 girls. Diagnosis was prenatal 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 retroperitoneal in 5 cases. Symptoms were variable: abdominal pain in 15 cases, palpable tumour in 6 cases (excluding the two cases of prenatal diagnosis). Complications included obstruction in 7 cases (including 3 by volvulus), infection in 6 cases, and intracystic haemorrhage in 3 cases. Abdominal ultrasonography correctly established the diagnosis in all children. Surgical treatment included 20 complete resections and one incomplete resection, including 6 with bowel resections. With a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 10 years, one recurrence occurred and was successfully reoperated. Intraabdominal cystic lymphangioma in childhood is a rare tumour with a variable presentation. An accurate diagnosis can be established by abdominal ultrasound. Complete resection should be performed whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Infantile, CHU Nord, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Merrot
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaumoitre
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simeoni-Alias
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alessandrini
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guys
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panuel
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Les lymphangiomes kystiques abdominaux de l'enfant. Aspects cliniques, diagnostiques et thérapeutiques: à propos de 21 observations.