title: A rare case of a giant cavernous lymphangioma of the chest wall and axilla in an adult patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphangiomas are benign lesions that are most commonly encountered in the neck of small infants, but are quite uncommon in the adult population. Their removal can be quite difficult, when they reach enormous dimensions or they develop in critical locations. Complete resection is curative, but incomplete resections entail the risk of relapse. Lymphangiomas of the chest wall are quite rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 35-year old man with a giant cavernous lymphangioma of the right lateral chest wall extending into the axilla, which was removed en bloc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These tumors of lymphatic origin tend to grow, as is the case in our patient, but they also tend to recur if not resected completely. Clinical examination and chest CT scan may provide a clue to the diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphangiomas of the thoracic wall are extremely rare lesions and wide resection is recommended due to the high recurrence rate of these benign lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and vascular Surgery, General Hospital of Chania, Chania, Greece. Electronic address: gphilippakis@hotmail.gr.
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Philippakis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manoloudakis
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marinakis