[Abdominal cystic lymphangiomas in children. Apropos of 6 cases].

Cystic lymphangiomas are rarely observed in the abdomen, even in a paediatric surgery ward. From 1977 to 1991, we diagnosed and treated six such lesions in our paediatric surgery department in Clermont-Ferrand. Most of the lymphangiomas were seen in boys. Mesenteric localizations were seen in 4 out of 6 cases with the characteristic chylous contents in 3 cases. There were very many different presenting signs, although two acute episodes of intestinal vuvulus occurred. The clinical features and the usefulness of exploratory techniques are discussed. The frequency of abdominal cystic lymphangiomas is probable underestimated although the number of cases diagnosed will undoubtedly rise with routine echography, especially in the ante-natal period. Surgical exeresis is the standard therapy but other alternative or complementary methods such as sclerosis techniques could be of interest.