%0 Journal Article %J Int J Surg Case Rep %D 2016 %T When a lymphatic malformation determines a bowel volvulus: Are clinical status and images always reliable? %A Guida, Edoardo %A Di Grazia, Massimo %A Cattaruzzi, Elisabetta %A Bussani, Rossana %A Rigamonti, Waifro %A Lembo, Maria Antonietta %X

INTRODUCTION: An acute abdomen in the form of small-bowel volvulus could be a presentation of a lymphatic malformation in childhood.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 5year old male was admitted to our Institute for an acute abdomen. Clinical aspects and radiological images were not specific for a certain diagnosis. Laparotomy revealed a big soft mass, with a milky content, completely involving about 50cm of ileus with a partial volvulus of the intestinal loop. A complete mass excision and also a bowel involved resection were performed. After a histological examination, a lymphatic malformation was diagnosed.

DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of a mesenteric lymphatic malformation could be intraoperative and a complete resection should be the treatment of choice. Sometimes it could be necessary to perform an involved bowel tract resection in the case of volvolus with ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS: Paediatricians and surgeons should bare in mind that an intrabdominal lymphatic malformation may present as a nonspecific an acute abdomen caused by a bowel volvolus and diagnosis may not be so simple preoperatively.

%B Int J Surg Case Rep %V 25 %P 192-5 %8 2016 %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27388707?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.ijscr.2016.06.030