Hemorrhagic mesenteric cystic lymphangioma presenting with acute lower abdominal pain: the diagnostic clues on MR Imaging
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008.
Emergency Radiology. 2008 Jul 5. [Epub ahead of print] [Link]
Okamoto D, Ishigami K, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Tajima T, Nishie A, Hirakawa M, Ushijima Y, Nishihara Y, Kakeji Y, Honda H.
Department of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan, dokamoto@med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
Abstract
A 32-year-old woman complained of acute lower abdominal pain. Computed tomography showed a complex multilocular cystic mass at the right adnexal region. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the origin of the mass to be the small bowel mesentery. Chemical-shift images detected septal fat of the cystic mass and suggested a small amount of fat within the locules of the cyst. A cystic tumor of the mesentery such as cystic lymphangioma, hemangioma, cystic mesothelioma, and dermoid was included in the differential diagnoses. The diagnosis of a hemorrhagic mesenteric cystic lymphangioma was confirmed at surgery and pathologic analysis. Cystic lymphangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain. The detection of septal fat may be helpful in the diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma when it shows unusual radiological appearances
Glossary
- imaging
- any method used to produce a picture of internal body structures. Some imaging methods used to detect cancer are x-rays (including mammograms and CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scintigraphy, and ultrasound.
- diagnosis
- identifying a disease by its signs or symptoms, and by using imaging procedures and laboratory findings. The earlier a diagnosis of cancer is made, the better the chance for long-term survival.
- detection
- finding disease. Early detection means that the disease is found at an early stage, before it has grown large or spread to other sites. Note many forms of cancer can reach an advanced stage without causing symptoms. Mammography can help to find breast cancer early, and the PSA blood test is useful in finding prostate cancer.
- cyst
- (sist) a fluid-filled mass that is usually benign. The fluid can be removed for analysis.
- tumor
- an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
