Chylous mesenteric cyst is a rare variant of mesenteric cystic lesions. Pathologically there is lack of communication of the main lymphatic vessels, resulting in cystic mass formation. Clinical presentation is diverse and can range from an incidentally apparent abdominal mass to symptoms of an acute abdomen. A 5-year-old girl presented with abdominal distension without pain. CT scan showed a huge and thin-walled cystic mass without solid portion. Laparotomy showed a 20 x 18 cm sized huge mesenteric cyst containing chylous fluid. Pathological diagnosis was cystic lymphangioma.

Lymphangiomas or cystic hygromas are quite commonly seen in children. During a 22-year period, from January 1980 to December 2001, 117 patients with lymphangioma were treated and followed in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Hanyang University Hospital. The male-to-female ratio was 1.9:1 (77:40) with a male preponderance. As for the age incidence at time of diagnosis, 10 (8.5 %) patients were noted under 1 month of age, 37 (31.6 %) were between 1 month and 1 year of age, 12 (10.3 %) between 1 and 2 years of age, so 59 (50.4 %) were under 2 years of age. Sixty one (52.1 %) lymphangioma-cases were located in the neck, including one case at the nape. Axilla was the second in frequency and the rest were scattered at various sites. The intrascrotal lymphangioma is very rare but we have experienced one case of primary intrascrotal lymphangioma. Eighteen (15.4 %) cases were located in the intraabdominal area, 10 in the mesentery, 2 in the greater omentum and 6 in the retroperitoneum. The chief complaints of intraabdominal lymphangioma were abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, inguinal hernia, palpable mass, and/or abdominal distension. Among 77 histologically proven cases, 14 cases were cavernous lymphangiomas and the rest were cystic lymphangiomas. Bleeding in the lymphangioma was noted in 20 (17.1 %) cases of all. As for the treatment, a complete excision was performed in 77 (65.8 %) patients and AgNO₃ sclerotherapy after incomplete excision was performed in 23 (19.7 %). Picibanil (OK-432) sclerotherapy was performed in 17 (14.5 %) patients. Recurrence rate was 7.7 % and mortality occurred in one case who had a large neck lymphangioma extending into the mediastinum.

Mesenteric and omental cysts are rare intra-abdominal lesions in childhood, and may present various clinical features such as an asymptomatic mass or an acute abdomen. Therefore, these entities are frequently misdiagnosed preoperatively or are found only incidentally at operation for other conditions. We analyzed our experiences of 19 cases in a 19 year period from 1981 to 1999, at College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea. There were 12 boys and 7 girls with a mean age of 4.8 years (range, 3 days to 15 years). Common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (47%), abdominal distension (31%), abdominal mass (24%), vomiting (15%) and fever (10%). Ultrasonography was the most preferred method of diagnosis. Other diagnostic modalities include CT, MRI, and abdominal ascites tapping in selected patients. Location of the mesenteric cysts was small bowel mesentery in nine, the right mesocolon and retroperitoneum in one, the left mesocolon in one, and the jejunum, sigmoid-colon mesentery in one. Most of the patients underwent cyst excision, but six patients required concomitant bowel resection for complete removal of the lesions, and two patients underwent unroofing and simple aspiration respectively. There was one mortality case due to sepsis.

Mesenteric and omental cysts are rare lesions in childhood. These cysts are morphologically and pathologically similar to lymphangiomas that occur in other parts of the body. From 1980 to 1997, 8 children were diagnosed and treated for mesenteric or omental cysts. Their ages ranged from 18 days to 6 years. There were 5 boys and 3 girls. The main presenting symptom was abdominal pain. Operative procedures were complete cysts excision, complete excision with intestinal resection, or complete excision with intestinal resection and colostomy. Accurate preoperative diagnosis was possible with the current ultrasonographic imaging techniques. Complete excision of the lesion was possible in all patients and results were excellent.