title: Mesenterical lymphangiomatosis causing volvulus and intestinal obstruction.
abstract: Lymphangiomas are benign tumors consisting of lymphatic vasculature that generally occur in the skin and soft tissues. Rarely, lymphangiomas occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we report a case of a 13-year-old girl presenting with an intestinal obstruction. Upon laparotomy, multiple cystic masses in the mesentery causing a volvulus were resected and histologically identified as multiple lymphangiomas, or lymphangiomatosis. Mesenteric lymphangioma is a rare entity, but should be considered as cause of bowel obstruction without other known abdominal disease. As the etiology of lymphangiomas remains elusive, further research is directed at unravelling the mechanistic and molecular factors contributing to this disease.
authors: Department of General Surgery, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors: Jan J
authors: JJ
authors: de Vries
authors: Jan M
authors: JM
authors: Vogten
authors: Peter C
authors: PC
authors: de Bruin
authors: Djamila
authors: D
authors: Boerma
authors: Henricus D W M
authors: HD
authors: van de Pavoordt
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: Hagendoorn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000209:etiology*; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology*