[Splenic lymphangioma: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 18 cases and review of literature].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis of splenic lymphangioma.


METHODS
Eighteen cases of splenic lymphangioma were retrieved from the pathology archives during the period between January 1990 to December 2005. The clinicopathologic features were analyzed. Immunohistochemical study was performed on the paraffin sections of 16 cases.


RESULTS
The age of the patients ranged from 9 to 72 years (median = 40 years). Thirteen patients were males and 5 were females. Clinically, the tumor could be asymptomatic or present with abdominal symptoms and hypersplenism. Follow-up information was available in 13 patients (72.2%) and the duration varied from 5 months to 15 years. All 13 patients had an uneventful clinical course, with no evidence of residual disease, local recurrence or metastasis. Gross examination showed splenic enlargement. The tumor appeared as cystic (8/18), solid (5/18) or honeycomb mass (5/18), either solitary (5/18) or multifocal (13/18). Histologically, splenic lymphangioma could be subclassified as cavernous (9/18), cystic (5/18) or mixed (4/18). Immunohistochemical study showed that the positivity rates for CD9 and D2-40 were 100% and 43.8% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Splenic lymphangioma is a rarely encountered entity that can be misdiagnosed as a splenic hemangioma. A definite diagnosis depends on pathologic examination.
Tang
Xue-Feng
XF
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Zhang
Wen-Yan
WY
Li
Gan-di
GD
Jiang
Li-Li
LL
Liu
Wei-Ping
WP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013156:Splenectomy; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D060245:Tetraspanin 29
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C554869:CD9 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D060245:Tetraspanin 29; C500987:monoclonal antibody D2-40