Lymphangiomas are benign tumors of dilated lymphatic vessels often found in the head, neck, and axilla of children. Lymphangiomas rarely occur in the abdomen, much less in the colon of adults. Colonic lymphangioma can cause symptoms and signs such as abdominal pain and abdominal distension and complications of gastrointestinal bleeding and intussusception. Intussusceptions are rarer in adults than in children. Most cases of intussusception in adults have a distinct cause, and a substantial number are related to malignant tumors. Herein, we report a rare case of ileocecal intussusception caused by cecal lymphangioma that required emergency surgery. A 40-year-old woman presented with severe abdominal pain of a two-day duration. Her abdomen was tender and showed muscle rigidity in the right lower quadrant. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen revealed ileocecal intussusception and a cystic mass, which was the leading point, with no evidence of bowel strangulation. The patient underwent emergency laparoscopic surgery because she had severe abdominal pain and showed peritoneal irritation signs. During surgery, the cecum was found to have invaginated into the ascending colon, almost to the hepatic flexure. Laparoscopic ileocecal resection with central vascular ligation was performed without intraoperative reduction of the intussusception because the cystic lesion could have a malignant component. Upon inspection, the lesion was a 60 mm × 50 mm submucosal mass located in the cecum. It was filled with clear serous fluid and thin walls. Pathology revealed the cystic mass to be a cecal lymphangioma with no evidence of malignancy. The patient was discharged seven days after emergency surgery with no complications. Our case adds to evidence that cecal lymphangiomas can cause colonic intussusception in adults. Although rare, the risk of colonic intussusception must be considered in the management of colonic lymphangiomas.

Among intraabdominal lymphangiomas, colonic lymphangiomas are rare. These cystic tumors are generally asymptomatic and incidentally found but may present with bleeding or obstructive symptoms. Intussusception by such tumors is scarcely reported, with only nine previously reported cases listed in Pubmed. We report a case of a 41-year-old female Asian patient who presented with acute abdomen and was diagnosed with colonic intussusception caused by lymphangioma. She received emergent right hemicolectomy, recovered well without complications, and was discharged on the 5th postoperative day.

Colorectal cystic lymphangiomas are rare benign lesions. They are characterized by the presence of either single or multi-cystic spaces lined by endothelium. Though there are multiple case reports of right and transverse colonic lymphangioma; only around 10 cases of lymphangioma of the rectum have been reported. We present a case report of rectal lymphangioma with the relevant literature review.

Cystic lymphangiomas are rare benign tumours and their actual incidence in the colon is unclear. Within the large bowel, these lesions are often submucosal and are incidental findings on colonoscopy.

A 43-year-old man with colonic lymphangioma presented with a 7-month history of abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Computed tomography showed a cystic mass lesion at the distal descending colon. Colonoscopy revealed a smooth, polypoid mass, initially thought as an inverting diverticulum. He underwent laparoscopic high anterior resection. The pathological analysis revealed the descending colon mass to be a lymphangioma with no evidence of diverticulosis.

There is increasing incidence in lymphangioma due to the increasing accessibility to colonoscopy, particularly for asymptomatic or subacute disease. Although colonoscopic excision, sclerotherapy and use of steroids or fibrin glue have been advocated as possible modes of treatment, surgical excision is still considered to be the treatment of choice.

To evaluate and describe CT and endoscopic imaging findings in patients with pathologically confirmed gastrointestinal tract lymphangiomas.

Findings from imaging examinations in 6 patients with pathologically confirmed lymphangioma were retrospectively reviewed (computed tomographic images obtained in 6 patients and endoscopic images obtained in 4 patients were available for review). Two radiologists evaluated lesion location, size, shape, edge, number, attenuation, the thickness of capsule wall and the degree of enhancement through PACS or workstation.

Lymphangiomas in gastrointestinal tract showed similar features in CT imaging: Contrast-enhanced CT scan showed the oval submucosal masses with homogeneous low attenuation. The lymphangioma appeared as a well-defined, smoothly marginated and non-enhancing cystic mass with intact overlying intestinal mucosa. In one case, the lymphangiomas were multiple with volvulus. Remarkably, CT imaging showed 2 patients with intussusception due to the mass. Endoscopic photographs manifested multiple colplanate mucosal protrusions in the gastric wall or intestinal wall. One case showed submucosal pedunculated proliferative lesion with adenomatous surface.

Lymphangiomas exhibited typical appearances that reflected their cystic pathologic features. They showed similar features in CT imaging: well-demarcated, non-enhancing, homogeneous low attenuation cystic masses with intact overlying mucosa. Endoscopic photographs showed submucosal masses with distension of overlying mucosal vessels.