Lymphangioma (patient information)

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Lymphangioma

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Lymphangioma?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Lymphangioma On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Lymphangioma

Videos on Lymphangioma

FDA on Lymphangioma

CDC on Lymphangioma

Lymphangioma in the news

Blogs on Lymphangioma

Directions to Hospitals Treating Lymphangioma

Risk calculators and risk factors for Lymphangioma

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Badria Munir M.B.B.S.[2]

Overview

Lymphangioma is abnormality of lymph vessels, which are normally involved in the re-circulation of excess body fluid back into the blood stream. The exact pathogenesis of lymphangioma is not fully understood. It is thought that lymphangioma is caused by either sequestration of lymph tissue, abnormal budding of lymph vessels, lack of fusion with the venous system, or obstruction of lymph vessels. Lymphangiomas most commonly develop at the head and neck regions.

What are the symptoms of Lymphangioma?

  • The majority of patients with lymphangioma are asymptomatic.
  • As the mass increases in size, lymphangioma patients may develop site-specific symptoms, such as:

What causes Lymphangioma?

Who is at highest risk?

The most potent risk factor in the development of lymphangioma is the presence of genetic disorders such as Turner syndrome, Down syndrome, and Noonan syndrome.

Diagnosis

Biopsy:

Histochemical staining:

  • Histochemical staining is recommended to document lymphangioma.

MRI:

  • MRI is primarily used for the diagnosis of lymphangioma.
  • MRI can mar the degree of involvement and extent of lesion.
  • MRI can prevent extensive, incomplete surgical resection, because poorly removed lesion can lead to recurrence.

When to seek urgent medical care?

In cases of severe complications of disease, such as

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Difficulty swallowing

Treatment options

Medical Therapy:

There is no medical treatment for lymphangioma; the mainstay of therapy is surgery.

Surgery:

The mainstay of therapy for lymphangioma is surgery which involves the removal of the abnormal tissue; however complete removal may be impossible without removing other normal areas. Most patients need at least two procedures done for the removal process to be achieved.

Where to find medical care for Lymphangioma?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Lymphangioma

Prevention of Lymphangioma

There are no established measures for the primary prevention of lymphangioma.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Prognosis of lymphangioma is generally good after surgical intervention.

Possible complications

Source

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