Gall-bladder and hepatoduodenal ligament lymphangioma - Case report and literature review

Abstract

Lymphangiomas are rare benign lesions of the lymphatic vessels that are most commonly diagnosed in childhood. Intraperitoneal localization is unusual as, typically, they are located in the head and neck areas. In general, abdominal lymphangiomas seem to be asymptomatic, however, patients may occasionally suffer from acute abdominal symptoms, due to intestinal obstruction or peritonitis. The study presented a case of a 41-year-old female patient, clinically asymptomatic, who was accidentally diagnosed with a multiseptated cystic lesion of the right liver lobe surrounding the gall-bladder fossa in a routine ultrasound examination. Further examinations including computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) aroused suspicion of a polycystic lesion of the gall-bladder and hepatoduodenal ligament. The cystic lesion of the gall-bladder and hepatoduodenal ligament filled with lymphatic fluid was diagnosed intraoperatively. Simultaneous cholecystectomy and radical resection of the cystic lesion was undertaken. The histopathological examination revealed the presence of a lymphangioma. Additionally, the authors of the study reviewed literature data concerning gall-bladder lymphangiomas.