[Unusual cause of acute abdomen in childhood. Cystic fibrolymphangioma of the mesentery].

Cystic fibrolymphangioma of the mesentery as an unusual cause of acute abdomen in infancy is described. This form is one of the many mesenteric cysts whose pathogenesis has not yet been established. Preoperative diagnosis of such cysts is very difficult, and there are very few cases in which a close study has been possible in the light of clinical suspicion. Intraoperative diagnosis is the most likely, therefore, though there are cases - such as that reported here - in which surgery is indicated to remedy the occlusion caused by the cyst, and not because a swelling has been noted on clinical examination.