title: Giant mesenteric lymphatic malformation presenting as small bowel volvulus.
abstract: Abdominal pain with bilious emesis is an ominous clinical presentation with many possible causes. We describe a previously healthy 4-year-old boy who presented with these symptoms and ultrasound findings of fluid throughout most of the abdominal cavity. Computed tomography imaging revealed a large cystic mass (21-by-13 cm) associated with a small bowel obstruction due to volvulus. A laparoscopic exploration was undertaken, revealing a large mass arising from the small intestinal mesentery and causing a segmental volvulus of the small bowel. Conversion to mini-laparotomy allowed reduction of the volvulus and segmental resection of the small bowel associated with a giant mesenteric lymphatic malformation. This case describes a rare cause of intestinal volvulus due to a mesenteric lymphatic malformation.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors: Christy E
authors: CE
authors: Cauley
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Spencer
authors: Department of Pediatric Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors: Pallavi
authors: P
authors: Sagar
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA amgoldstein@partners.org.
authors: Allan M
authors: AM
authors: Goldstein