Retroperitoneal lymphangioma: A report of 2 cases and a review of the literature regarding the differential diagnoses of retroperitoneal cystic masses

Abstract

Cystic lymphangioma is a type of benign tumor originating from the lymph vessels. The tumor commonly occurs in childhood, in the head or neck regions, and retroperitoneal localization and presentations in adulthood are rare. Determining a pre-operative diagnosis is often challenging, and in the majority of cases, a diagnosis is only possible subsequent to the histological examination of the surgical specimen. A radical resection is the recommended treatment for cystic lymphangioma, and recurrence is usually due to an incomplete excision of the mass. The present study reports 2 cases of cystic lymphangioma, localized in the pancreatic gland and duodenal wall respectively, which were treated with surgical resection. The study also briefly reviews the literature regarding the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal cystic masses.