Abstract
A 43-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer consulted our hospital for a periodic medical checkup. A gastric CT scan demonstrated a large low-density tumor which was about 4cm in maximum diameter and in contact with the lesser curvature of the stomach, left lobe of the liver and pancreas. About 1.5 years later, the tumor increased in size. An X-ray contrast study showed a flat-shaped protruded lesion in the lesser curvature of the gastric cardia. An endoscopic ultrasonogram revealed that the cystic tumor about 5cm in diameter was homogeneous hypoechoic and confined in the 4th layer (muscular layer) of the gastric wall. Based on these findings, the most likely diagnosis of the tumor was submucosal cystic tumor, especially lymphangioma, of the stomach and a partial gastrectomy was performed. The resected material disclosed that no solid component was involred in the cyst and its content was yellowish brown fluid. The histological diagnosis was thus cystic lymphangioma in the gastric muscular layer. Gastric lymphangioma developed in the muscular layer is very rare and our case is presented here with a review of the literature.
