A rare case of cervical cystic lymphangioma in a preschool child: Timely diagnosis and treatment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13112/pc.1166Keywords:
Lymphangioma, Cystic; Sclerotherapy; Child, Preschool; Lymphatic vesselsAbstract
Introduction: Cystic lymphangiomas are rare congenital lymphatic malformations that usually present before two years of age, most commonly involving the cervical region. Reporting this case is important due to its atypical age of presentation, deep cervical involvement, and successful non-surgical management.
Case presentation: We report a five-year-old boy who presented with an eight-day history of a progressively enlarging, painless right-sided neck swelling. Clinical examination revealed a well-defined, mobile cervical mass. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a multilocular cystic lesion consistent with cystic lymphangioma. The child was treated with a single intralesional dose of bleomycin, resulting in significant regression of the swelling. He has remained asymptomatic with no evidence of recurrence during two years of follow-up.
Conclusions: This case highlights the need to maintain a broad differential diagnosis for paediatric neck swellings, especially in atypical presentations. Early imaging and prompt initiation of sclerotherapy resulted in complete regression and prevention of potential complications. The excellent response to a single intra-lesional bleomycin injection underscores its effectiveness as a minimally invasive treatment, while continued follow-up remains essential due to the risk of recurrence.
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