National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Abdominal cystic lymphangioma


Other Names:
Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma; RCL; Abdominal retroperitoneal lymphangioma
Abdominal cystic lymphangioma is a benign (noncancerous) malformation of the lymphatic vessels in the abdomen. These vessels carry lymph, a fluid that contains white blood cells that fight infection, throughout the body. The severity of the condition and the associated features vary from person to person. When present, signs and symptoms may include abdominal pain, an increase in waist circumference, an abdominal mass, intestinal obstruction, and/or volvulus (a twisting of the intestines). The cause of abdominal cystic lymphangioma is poorly understood; however, scientists suspect that it is a congenital anomaly. Most cases are diagnosed in people with no family history of the condition. Treatment varies based on the severity of the condition. People with small malformations that do not cause any symptoms may simply be followed with regular imaging studies to monitor for progression. Some of these cases may resolve spontaneously without treatment. When necessary, surgical excision is often the treatment of choice since it is associated with the lowest risk of recurrence.[1][2]
Last updated: 10/6/2016

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Patient Registry

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Abdominal cystic lymphangioma. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Makni A, Chebbi F, Fetirich F, Ksantini R, Bedioui H, Jouini M, Kacem M, Ben Safta Z.. Surgical management of intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma. Report of 20 cases. World J Surg. May 2012; 36(5):1037-1043.
  2. Wake S, Abhyankar A, Hutton K. Abdominal cystic lymphangioma mimicking appendicitis. European J Pediatr Surg Rep. 2013 Jun;1(1):32-4. June 2013; 1(1):32-34.