title: Subserous lymphangioma of the sigmoid colon: an uncommon cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients.
abstract: Lymphangioma is a rare, benign lesion derived from a malformation of the lymphatic system, which is more frequently found in the head, neck, and axilla. However, it may be present anywhere in the body, and the diagnosis involves adults as children with some distinct clinical features among them. In pediatric patients, abdominal cystic lymphangioma occurs mostly in the mesentery presenting abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, or, more rarely, hemorrhage. The authors report the case of a child with a short-course history of fever, abdominal pain, and constipation. The physical examination disclosed the presence of an abdominal mass and signs of peritoneal irritation. Imaging was consistent with a cystic lesion compressing the sigmoid colon and laterally displacing the remaining loops. Exploratory laparotomy was undertaken, and a sigmoidectomy, followed by Hartman's colostomy, was performed. Histological examination revealed the nature of the lesion as a cystic lymphangioma. The authors highlight the clinical features of this entity and call attention to this disease in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen or abdominal pain, mainly in pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department - Hospital das Clínicas - Faculty of Medicine - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Bianca Furlan
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department - Hospital das Clínicas - Faculty of Medicine - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Érika Neves de Souza
authors.initials: ÉN
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Francini Rossetto
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics - Faculty of Medicine - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Gabriel Núncio
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Benevides
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Service - Hospital Universitário - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil.; Pathology Department - Faculty of Medicine - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil.
authors.forename: Aloísio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felipe-Silva
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Service - Hospital Universitário - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Cristiane Rúbia
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Surgery Division - Hospital Universitário - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio Martins
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: de Alcântara
authors.affiliation: Surgery Division - Hospital Universitário - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tokeshi
authors.affiliation: Imaging Diagnostic Service - Hospital Universitário - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: João Augusto Dos Santos
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martinês
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Division - Hospital Universitário - University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP - Brazil .
authors.forename: Ângela Espósito
authors.initials: ÂE
authors.lastname: Ferronato
keywords: Abdomen, Acute, Surgical Procedure, Operative; Colon, Sigmoid; Lymphangioma, Cystic