Cystic lymphangioma of the small intestine in a young girl

We describe a case of a 12-year old girl who presented with abdominal pain. A large abdominal mass was discovered on physical examination. Preoperative studies including abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan were performed, but they could not accurately determine the nature of the tumor. At laparotomy, a large cystic tumor of the small bowel was found. Histopathologic examination revealed a tumor of cystic lymphangioma. Although lymphangiomas are rare, especially in the abdomen, they may sometimes present as abdominal pain and acute abdomen, causing complications that require emergent surgery