title: Spontaneous resolution of a recurrent axillary cystic hygroma following acute infection.
abstract: We report a case of spontaneous resolution of a recurrent axillary cystic hygroma in a 4-year-old boy. He presented with a 1-year history of a cystic lump in the left axilla, which intermittently changed in size. Ultrasound suggested it was a lipoma, with raised suspicions of vascular malformation. Scans were discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting and provisional diagnosis of lymphocele or slow flow lymphovascular malformation was made. It was surgically excised and histology confirmed the lesion to be a cystic hygroma. However, it recurred within 3 weeks. The patient was booked for aspiration and treatment with sclerotic agent OK 432. He developed acute infection in the cystic hygroma a week before surgical intervention and was treated with antibiotics for 5 days by his general practitioner. Acute infection led to complete spontaneous resolution of the cystic hygroma within a week. There are no other reported cases in which recurrent cystic hygroma has resolved after a week of acute infection.
authors.affiliation: Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Richard Wei Chern
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9383-0374
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Queen Medical Campus, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2873-0884
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Queen Medical Campus, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Shailinder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001365:Axilla / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents