A case report of a symptomatic cystic lymphangioma of the omental bursa

Cystic lymphangiomas of the omental bursa are rare entities, especially in the adult population. Their clinical course can vary significantly from asymptomatic presentation to acute abdomen, and they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal cystic lesions. We present the case of a 67-year-old female with progressive abdominal distension with a palpable, easily movable, swelling of the abdomen. The CT (computed tomography) scan showed a cystic structure measuring 10.3 ×13.7 ×15.4 cm without a clear association to the surrounding organs. An open resection with complete removal of the structure which was located within the omental bursa was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a cystic lymphangioma. Only a few cases of such lesions have been reported in the literature since their first description in 1852. To our knowledge there is no international registry for such lesions, making it difficult to properly define their incidence and potential for malignant transformation. Therefore, we suggest the establishment of such a registry.