[Abdominal lymphangiomas in childhood].

The authors evaluate their experience with the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal lymphangiomas during the period of 1995-1999. During the above period 6 girls and 4 boys with abdominal lymphangiomas were operated. The mean age at the time of operation was 5 years and 8 months. Ultrasonographic examination was made in all 10 patients, CT examination in 8. The surgical finding was lymphangioma of the mesenterium 4x, of the omentum 2x, of the adrenals 2x of the retroperitoneum 1x and intestinal lymphangiomatosis 1x. Macroscopically complete extirpation of the lymphangioma was possible in 9 patients and called for resection of the gut 3x and for adrenalectomy 2x. In one patient subtotal extirpation was performed. Postoperative follow-up did not reveal a relapse in any of the children. Abdominal cystic lymphangiomas are rare benign malformations of the lymphatic system. For preoperative differential diagnosis in typical cases USG is sufficient. The therapeutic method is complete surgical extirpation which is associated with a low incidence of relapses.