Abstract

WEBER SANCHEZ, Alejandro et al. Laparoscopic resection of a residual retroperitoneal cavernous lymphangioma. Cir. gen [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.3, pp.206-212. ISSN 1405-0099.

Objective: To present the case of a woman with cavernous lymphangioma incidentally diagnosed and surgically treated, first through laparotomy and later, for its final resolution, through laparoscopy. We discuss the advantages of mini-invasive surgery as an adjuvant method for the resection of a residual lymphangioma after extensive laparotomy. Setting: Third level health care hospital. Design: Case presentation and review of the literature. Case description: A 43-year-old woman, in whom a cystic mass, apparently depending on the right ovary was documented; tumor markers for ovarian cancer were normal. She was programmed to undergo salpingoplasty and resection of the ovarian cyst, through Pfannenstiel incision. During surgery a giant cyst of retroperitoneal origin was found, which extended from the pelvic hole to the upper abdomen. It was resected almost totally due to the extension of the tumor, except for the pancreatoduodenal and retrohepatic region, because, when attempting to approach this area, transoperative bleeding started and we did not know the relations of the tumor with these organs. The resection of this residual portion was deferred to be able to complement the diagnosis with imaging and histopathology studies and perform the resection at a second surgical time. Postoperative tomography revealed no pancreatoduodenal, biliary, or vascular dependence. After 1 month, the patient was programmed for laparoscopic resection of the residual tumor. The histopathological report corresponded to cavernous lymphangioma in both situations. Conclusions: Treatment of retroperitoneal lymphangiomas consists of complete resection. Mini-invasive surgery is a useful, valuable option and a better accepted alternative by patients in some planned re-operations where initially open surgery had been performed.

Keywords : Cavernous lymphangioma; retroperitoneal lymphangioma; laparoscopy; residual tumor.

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