Cystic lymphangioma of the hepatoduodenal ligament: a rare intra-abdominal tumor mimicking hematoma

A 22-year-old man was referred for upper abdominal pain. Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a lesion of heterogeneous hypoattenuation, part of which showed slightly high-density in the porta hepatis. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), T1-weighted images showed a multiloculated hyperintense mass and part of the mass was hyperintense in T2-weighted images. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a 40 mm multilocular mass with septa, containing solid and small cystic components. In sonazoid-enhanced ultrasonography, the septa were enhanced but the solid components were not. Because of the location of tumor and the findings of CT/MRI, we suspected the lesion as hematoma of the liver. We could not exclude neoplastic disease, such as biliary cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma of the liver, so surgical resection was performed. The mass was a multilocular cyst arising from the hepatoduodenal ligament. Pathological examination revealed aggregation of lymph vessels and endothelial-like cells with no atypia, which were positive for the specific markers D2-40 and CD31. The histological diagnosis was abdominal lymphangioma. Intra-abdominal lymphangiomas, which originate from the hepatoduodenal ligament, are extremely rare, benign tumors. We are mindful that lymphangioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors in the abdominal cavity, mimicking a hematoma of the liver and with a cystic appearance.

Automated summary

A 22-year-old man presented with upper abdominal pain and was diagnosed with abdominal lymphangioma originating from the hepatoduodenal ligament after multiple imaging studies and surgical resection. This rare benign tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal tumors, especially those mimicking a liver hematoma with a cystic appearance.