A Case of Preoperatively Diagnosed Retroperitoneal Cavernous Lymphangioma

Takayuki Morita^{1) 3)}, Miyoshi Fujita^{1) 3)}, Yuuji Miyasaka^{1) 3)}, Haruchika Ikenaga^{1) 3)}, Yoshiyuki Inoue²⁾, Tatsuo Tanabe²⁾, Fumiji Miyasaka²⁾, Masaaki Nishizawa²⁾, Shouichi Horita²⁾, Eiji Shimozawa³⁾, Hiroyuki Kato³⁾, Tatsuzo Tanabe³⁾

Department of Surgery¹⁾and Internal Medicine²⁾, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital
Second Department of Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine³⁾

A case of retroperitoneal cavernous lymphangioma is reported. A 49-year-old man was admitted because of a feeling of abdominal pressure. An abdominal US study revealed a large honeycomb-like mass, and a CT showed a homogeneous cystic mass, detected as an avascular area on angiography. US-guided needle aspiration yielded milky fluid. Based on the results of these examinations, a diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumor (most likely lymphangioma) was made and surgery was performed. The surgical specimen had a sponge-like structure and was diagnosed as lymphangioma histologically. The patient is well 15 months after surgery. Although approximately 100 cases of retroperitoneal lymphagnioma were reported in Japan, only 7 cases have been of the cavernous type. Cavernous lymphangioma is characterized by infiltration and has a potential for malignant degeneration. Consequently total resection should be performed.

Key words
retroperitoneal tumor cavernous lymphangioma, preoperative diagnosis

Reprint requests
Takayuki Morita Department of Surgery, Hokkaido Gastroenterology Hospital
1-1 Honchou, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, 065 JAPAN

Accepted
May 13, 1992

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