A Case Report of Multiple Lymphangioma of the Colon

Abstract

A case of multiple lymphangioma of the colon, a very rare disease, is reported. A 62-year-old woman consulted her home doctor with complaints of recurrent diarrhea and tenesmus, and multiple polypoid lesions were found in the ascending to transverse colon after barium enema. A colonofiberscope revealed a smooth surfaced and pale-blue soft submucosal tumor, which was revealed by colonofiberscopic ultrasonography as a cystic lesion having some septums. The Diagnosis of a lymphatic cyst of the colon was made and a right hemicolectomy was performed. Histologically, any tumor was diagnosed as cystic lymphangioma. Agha reported 22 cases of colonic lymphangioma abroad and this is the 50th case reported in Japan. According to the Japanese literature, the average age of the patients is 53.1 yr and this disease is found more often in males than females with a ratio of 3 to 2. The lesion is present more often in the right-sided colon. It is said that the differential diagnosis of colonic submucosal tumor is difficult. But the ultrasonic colonofiberscope is an efficient apparatus with which one can determine the location and characteristics of the lesion, and it is possible that it will be an useful means of differential diagnosis.