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Soft Tissue Tumors Part 3

Muscle, Vascular, Nerve, Other

Lymphangioma - general

 

Author: Nat Pernick, M.D, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

Revised: 22 October 2009, last major update – October 2009

Copyright: (c) 2002-2009, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

 

See also subtypes: cysticlymphangiomatosislymphangiomatous papules/plaques post-radiation

 

Definition

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● May represent malformations due to failure of lymphatics to communicate with venous system

● Most described cases are cystic / cavernous

● Skin tumors are called lymphangioma circumscriptum

 

Clinical

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● Benign

● See also discussion in these chapters: bone, breast, kidney tumor, lymph nodes, mediastinum, skin-nonmelanocytic tumors, skin-nontumor, spleen

 

Case reports

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● Mediastinal tumor in pregnant woman with mixed capillary and cystic histology (Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2008;31:697)

 

Treatment

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● Excision if possible (Lymphology 2006;39:147); also sclerotherapy or observation

Recurrence is minimized by complete excision (Mayo Clin Proc 2006;81:1197)

 

Micro description

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● Large lymphatic channels in loose connective tissue stroma

● Focally disorganized smooth muscle in wall of larger channels

● Peripheral lymphoid aggregates

● Often increased mast cells (Mod Pathol 1999;12:569)

 

Micro images

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Retroperitoneal tumor                      Tumor of foot                       Dilated lymphatics lined by

flattened endothelium

 

 

H&E, CD31, elastin

 

Positive stains

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● CD31, CD34, D2-40 (Pediatr Dev Pathol 2005;8:181); patchy Factor VIII (Am J Clin Pathol 1981;75:167)

Also CK7 (Hum Pathol 2000;31:1062)

 

Negative stains

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● Ki-67 (or low, Arch Pathol Lab Med 1997;121:1055)

 

Electron microscopy

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● Poorly developed and discontinuous basal lamina; presence of anchoring fibrils (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1980;104:316)

 

Additional references

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Wikipedia, eMedicine

 

End of Soft Tissue Tumors Part 3 - Muscle, Vascular, Nerve, Other > Lymphangioma > General

 

 

 

This information is intended for physicians and related personnel, who understand that medical information is often imperfect, and must also be interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical data using reasonable medical judgment.  This website should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a licensed physician.

 

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