Gastrointestinal tract lymphangiomas: findings at CT and endoscopic imaging with histopathologic correlation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and describe CT and endoscopic imaging findings in patients with pathologically confirmed gastrointestinal tract lymphangiomas.


METHODS
Findings from imaging examinations in 6 patients with pathologically confirmed lymphangioma were retrospectively reviewed (computed tomographic images obtained in 6 patients and endoscopic images obtained in 4 patients were available for review). Two radiologists evaluated lesion location, size, shape, edge, number, attenuation, the thickness of capsule wall and the degree of enhancement through PACS or workstation.


RESULTS
Lymphangiomas in gastrointestinal tract showed similar features in CT imaging: Contrast-enhanced CT scan showed the oval submucosal masses with homogeneous low attenuation. The lymphangioma appeared as a well-defined, smoothly marginated and non-enhancing cystic mass with intact overlying intestinal mucosa. In one case, the lymphangiomas were multiple with volvulus. Remarkably, CT imaging showed 2 patients with intussusception due to the mass. Endoscopic photographs manifested multiple colplanate mucosal protrusions in the gastric wall or intestinal wall. One case showed submucosal pedunculated proliferative lesion with adenomatous surface.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphangiomas exhibited typical appearances that reflected their cystic pathologic features. They showed similar features in CT imaging: well-demarcated, non-enhancing, homogeneous low attenuation cystic masses with intact overlying mucosa. Endoscopic photographs showed submucosal masses with distension of overlying mucosal vessels.
Zhu
Hui
H
Department of Radiology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197, The Second Rui Jin Rd, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.
Wu
Zhi Yuan
ZY
Lin
Xiao Zhu
XZ
Shi
Bei
B
Upadhyaya
Manavendra
M
Chen
Kemin
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol