title: Mesenteric lymphangioma causing bowel obstruction: report of one case.
abstract: A 6-year-old female was sent to our ER due to nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension for 2 days. This child had a history of constipation and failed intermittent medical treatment for 2 years. Her plain abdominal X-ray showed multiple intestinal loops and under the impression of acute abdomen with mechanical intestinal obstruction, an exploratory laparotomy was performed. A huge mesenteric tumor was discovered to be the cause of the intestinal obstruction; the involved bowel and the mesenteric lymphangioma were resected and primary anastomosis was done. Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma is a rare cause of bowel obstruction; preoperative diagnosis is difficult due to silent clinical course and lack of awareness of the clinical and morphological features of this disease. The case is presented along with a review of literature with the conclusion that a high index of suspicion is recommended. An abdominal ultrasonography may be recommended to evaluate a long-term constipated child to ascertain that any cystic lesion will not be missed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Chang
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shih-Hsin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Min-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shih-Hung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kai-Mo
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D007580:Jejunal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008639:Mesenteric Cyst / Q000473:pathology; D008643:Mesentery; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*