Mesenteric and mesocolic cystic lymphangiomas. Diagnostic and therapeutic management.

Mesenteric and mesocolic cystic lymphangiomas. Diagnostic and therapeutic management. Study aim: Study of clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of mesenteric and mesocolic cystic lymphangiomas. Material and methods: 15 cases were retrospectively analysed: 5 adults (mean age 36.8 years, range 26 to 46) and 10 children (mean age 23 months, range 0 to 5 years). Diagnosis was prenatal in 1 case. Symptoms were: abdominal pain (80%), fever (20%), abdominal mass (46%), occlusive syndrome (33%), chylous ascitis 1 case. Tumours were mesenteric (86%) or mesocolic (13%). Results: Complete resection was performed in 11 cases (including 10 bowel resections), incomplete resections in 3 and doxycycline sclerotherapy once. Mean follow-up is 5 years. One recurrence occured 6 years after complete resection and I tumour increased after incomplete resection. Patient treated by sclerotherapy was non symptomatic with a 3.5 years follow-up after last injection. Conclusion: Mesenteric and mesocolic cystic lymphangiomas are congenital benign tumours. Complete resection should be performed whenever possible. Intracystic sclerotherapy with doxycyclin is possible for unresectable lymphangiomas. (C) 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.