Large cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas: unusual finding with differential diagnosis and therapeutic considerations

Abstract

Lymphangiomas are rare benign tumours of lymphatic vascular origin. They are more common in the paediatric population and manifest mainly in the neck and axillary region. Retroperitoneal lymphangiomas are <1% and pancreatic origin is even rarer. We present a case of a pancreatic cystic lymphangioma in a 60-year-old woman with chronic diffuse symptoms, diagnosed because of newly onset of diabetes mellitus. She was successfully managed with distal pancreatectomy and spleenectomy en-bloc with the cystic mass without any complications. Cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas is a rare entity presenting with a challenging preoperative diagnosis as imaging modalities may provide ambiguous information. The clinician should be aware of its complicated differential diagnosis and its persistent and subtle symptomatology.