A Case of Lymphangiectasia Arising at the Site of an Operative Scar

ABSTRACT

Lymphangiectasia(acquired lymphangioma) is characterized clinically by the presence of a circumscribed eruption of thin-walled, translucent vesicles which closely resemble frog spawn in appearance. This rare disorder may arise as a result of acquired lymphatic obstruction secondary to surgery, irradiation, chronic recurrent infection, chronic scarring, or trauma. Herein, we report a case of atypical lymphangiectasia at the site of an abdominal scar in a 70-year-old female. She developed a dark red-colored, pedunculated papule, 2 years after a total abdominal hysterectomy and post-operative irradiation for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Histopatholgical findings showed multiple irregularly shaped cystic dilatated cells lined by a single layer of endothelium in the dermis. Immunohistochemical staining with factor VIII-related antigen showed negative results. A lymphangiogram showed signs of acquired lymphatic obstruction.