Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Cystic lymphangiomata are rare benign tumours of childhood resulting from an abnormal development of the lymphatic system, most of which occur in the head and axillary region, referred to as cystic hygromas. Lymphangioma arising in the abdomen are particularly rare and the symptoms are variable. They usually affect boys and can be associated with specific genetic abnormalities, most notably Turners syndrome.

Case: We report the case of a 14-year-old girl with Turners syndrome who was found to have a large abdominal lymphangioma after a routine renal ultrasound was performed. She was diagnosed with Turners syndrome on amniocentesis and was being followed up annually in outpatients. She had few features of Turners and was well apart from occasional abdominal pain. Renal ultrasound showed a large cystic structure measuring 17×6 cm in the right adnexa extending to the central abdomen. An MRI showed the cystic structure was separate from the right ovary and was highly suggestive of a lymphangioma. She was referred to the paediatric surgical team and the decision was made to excise the lesion.

Conclusion: Congenital abnormalities present outside the neonatal period as surgical disease, and although very rare intra-abdominal lymphangioma need to be excluded in the differential of an acute abdomen especially in girls of reproductive age.