Abstract
A 27-year-old woman was evaluated at our hospital for abdominal pain that began 2 days previously. She was otherwise healthy, with no significant past medical history. On physical examination, there was tenderness of the right upper abdomen and hypochondrium, but there was no palpable mass. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a multilobulated cystic lesion in the upper abdomen. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a homogeneous mass without contrast enhancement. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a mass with low signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging.
A lymphangioma was strongly suspected, but because of an elevated inflammatory response, bacterial infection in association with the lymphangioma was considered, so treatment was started with antibiotics. The inflammatory response subsided, and then a partial transverse colectomy and tumor resection were performed. Histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of lymphangioma.
Lymphangiomas are more common in children, with only a few reported cases in adults. This rare case of lymphangioma of the colonic mesentery is reported along with a discussion of the relevant literature.
