TY - JOUR
T1 - Cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas with spontaneous rupture
T2 - Report of a case
AU - Kawaguchi, Kei
AU - Motoi, Fuyuhiko
AU - Ohtsuka, Hideo
AU - Fukuyama, Shoji
AU - Rikiyama, Toshiki
AU - Katayose, Yu
AU - Egawa, Shinichi
AU - Satoh, Masahiro
AU - Asakura, Toru
AU - Shimosegawa, Toru
AU - Unno, Michiaki
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Lymphangioma is a benign and congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. Most lymphangiomas are preferentially located in the head and neck region. The abdominal organs are uncommon sites of origin. Several cases of lymphangioma in abdominal organs were reported, however, the pancreas is one of the rarest origins. Generally, intra-abdominal lymphangioma is asymptomatic and found incidentally, but in some cases, the patient complains of abdominal distension or a palpable mass. We describe the case of a 38-year-old male who presented with sudden-onset upper abdominal pain. Rupture of a cystic tumor of the pancreatic head was suspected, based on the findings of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasonography. Subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was undertaken. The tumor, which was 4 × 4.5 × 8 cm in size, was pathologically diagnosed as a cystic lymphangioma. In conclusion, pancreatic lymphangioma is mostly asymptomatic, a ruptured case causing 'acute abdomen' has never been reported. Since lymphangioma is benign, it could be observed with accurate diagnosis. The surgical indication would be limited to cases of symptomatic lymphangiomas.
AB - Lymphangioma is a benign and congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. Most lymphangiomas are preferentially located in the head and neck region. The abdominal organs are uncommon sites of origin. Several cases of lymphangioma in abdominal organs were reported, however, the pancreas is one of the rarest origins. Generally, intra-abdominal lymphangioma is asymptomatic and found incidentally, but in some cases, the patient complains of abdominal distension or a palpable mass. We describe the case of a 38-year-old male who presented with sudden-onset upper abdominal pain. Rupture of a cystic tumor of the pancreatic head was suspected, based on the findings of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasonography. Subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was undertaken. The tumor, which was 4 × 4.5 × 8 cm in size, was pathologically diagnosed as a cystic lymphangioma. In conclusion, pancreatic lymphangioma is mostly asymptomatic, a ruptured case causing 'acute abdomen' has never been reported. Since lymphangioma is benign, it could be observed with accurate diagnosis. The surgical indication would be limited to cases of symptomatic lymphangiomas.
KW - D2-40
KW - Lymphangioma
KW - Pancreas
KW - Rupture
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80052719831&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80052719831&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000326943
DO - 10.1159/000326943
M3 - Article
C2 - 21712979
AN - SCOPUS:80052719831
VL - 5
SP - 288
EP - 294
JO - Case Reports in Gastroenterology
JF - Case Reports in Gastroenterology
SN - 1662-0631
IS - 2
ER -