The diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal lymphangioma

Objective To study the clinical and imaging features of retropefitoneal lymphangio-ma and improve the level of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Methods The clinical and ima-ging data of 11 patients (7 males and 4 femals) with retroperitoneal lymphangioma proved pathologically were analyzed retrospectively. Their age ranged from 6 to 57 years with a mean of 42 years. All patients presented no special clinical manifestation. Uhrasonography and CT scan showed smoothly margined cyst-ic masses. Seven cases were unilocular and 4 cases were muhilocular. Preoperative definite diagnosis was made in only 1 case by ultrasonography - guided percutaneous catheter drainage of the lymphangioma. Results All the patients were performed complex excision. Open excision was carried out in 9 cases and retroperitoneal laparoscopic excision in 2 cases. The diagnosis of all cases was confirmed by pathologic studies. There was no recurrence during the follow - up 8 mouths to 12 years. Conclusions Retropefito-neal lymphangioma is often delayed or missed diagnosis due to its unspecific clinical presentation. The di-agnosis depends on image examinations, fine noodle aspiration is helpful to its diagnosis. Complete exci-sion is the first choice in the treatment. Key words: Retroperitoneal;  Lymphangioma;  Diagnosis ;  Treatment