Abstract
Lymphangiomas are rare benign masses of the lymphatic tissue, most commonly arise in the neck in childhood, and such a mass located in the retroperitoneum, especially occurring in adulthood, is very rare. A 50-year-old woman was pointed out having large quantities of ascites on abdominal ultrasound at a physical examination, and was referred to our hospital. Abdominal CT scan revealed not ascites but a huge cystic lesion that occupied the greater part of the intraabdominal space sifting digestive organs to the left side. She was asymptomatic, but a risk of bleeding or rupture of the cyst was considered. Extraction of the cyst was most likely the best medical treatment, and operation was performed. The cyst was opened easily because of the weakness of the wall, when yellow serous fluid spouted from it and was sucked that reached 3200ml. Cytology revealed no malignancy. The complete extraction was impossible because a part of the wall firmly adhered to the renal vein and the vena cava. The pathological diagnosis was lymphangioma. A low density area was recognized around the remained wall early after the operation, and recurrence was suggested. However, no apparent changes in size of the area have been seen on CT scans for three years, after the operation. Periodic examinations would be mandatory for the patient.
