Lymphangioma
Pathology
- Congenital abnormality during evolution of embyronic lymph nodes into the adult type
- Classification
- Cystic: cystic hygroma
- Solid
- Diffuse
- Cutanaeous: lymphangioma circumscripta - present as multiple groups of multiple small transparent blisters lying close to each other
Approach
- Expose neck
- Usually found in children, rarely present in younger adults
- Inspection
- Swelling above clavicle in posterior triangle
- Palpation
- Swelling feels soft and smooth
- More solid areas may be palpable within the mass
- Characteristically "brilliantly transilluminable" (because full of lymph)
- Skin overlying lump is normal
