Emergency presentation of cystic lymphangioma of the colon: A case report and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Colonic lymphangioma is an unusual benign malformation. The clinical presentation of lymphangiomas vary from incidental discovery on imaging to presenting with acute abdomen.


METHODS
We present the case of a 73-year-old male, undergoing surgery due to acute abdomen associated with severe anemia, in whose case a lymphangioma of the cecum was recognised only in the postoperative histopathological examination.


CONCLUSIONS
The management of colonic lymphangioma depends on the individual situation; close surveillance or endoscopic therapy may be appropriate for asymptomatic lesions smaller than 2.5cm in diameter. Surgical intervention can be considered for larger lesions or in patients who develop complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The interest in our case lies in the relatively rare diagnosis of colon lymphangioma and how the cardinal sign was anemia, which may be due to the serosanguineous cystic contents of lymphangiomatosis from the internal bleeding and can cause fatal complications that require emergency surgery.
Emergency Surgery and Trauma Care Unit-St. Filippo Neri's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Luca
L
Lepre
Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", St. Andrea Hospital, Via Di Grottarossa, 1035-39, 00189 Rome, Italy.
Gianluca
G
Costa
Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", St. Andrea Hospital, Via Di Grottarossa, 1035-39, 00189 Rome, Italy.
Daniela
D
Baldini
Emergency Surgery and Trauma Care Unit-St. Filippo Neri's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Francesco
F
Cortese
Emergency Surgery and Trauma Care Unit-St. Filippo Neri's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Saputelli
Emergency Surgery and Trauma Care Unit-St. Filippo Neri's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Aldo
A
Gioffre
Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", St. Andrea Hospital, Via Di Grottarossa, 1035-39, 00189 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: pietro.fransvea@gmail.com.
Pietro
P
Fransvea
Colon; Emergency; Gastrointestinal bleeding; Gastrointestinal neoplasm; Lymphangioma; Surgery