Intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma in a 30-year-old male: a case report and review of management strategies

Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangiomas are an exceptionally rare subset of benign lymphatic malformations in adults, often presenting with vague and nonspecific abdominal symptoms that complicate early recognition.This case of a 30-year-old male with retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma underscores the diagnostic challenges, particularly when routine endoscopic and laboratory evaluations are unremarkable whereby contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging proved pivotal in localizing and characterizing the lesion, informing surgical planning.This case highlights the necessity of maintaining a high index of suspicion for retroperitoneal cystic lymphangiomas in adults presenting with unexplained abdominal pain and reinforces the critical role of imaging and surgical management in achieving favourable outcomes.