Small bowel lymphatic malformation: Clinical presentation and a comprehensive literature review

Figure 1 Axial contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans of the abdomen showing small bowel lymphatic malformation. A: A lobulated, low-attenuation lesion within the mesentery adjacent to small bowel loops (green arrow), suggestive of a lymphatic malformation; B: The lesion appears to contain internal septations and shows no evidence of enhancement (green arrow), consistent with the imaging features of a mesenteric lymphatic malformation.

Figure 2  A resected small bowel loop with a large mass that arises from the mesentery and involves the small bowel wall.

Figure 3 Histopathological examination of the resected small bowel mass confirming lymphatic malformation. A: Low power magnification (× 10). Small bowel with multiple dilated, thin-walled lymphatic channels within the submucosa and muscularis layers. The cystic spaces are lined with flattened endothelial cells and contain proteinaceous fluid, consistent with lymphatic malformation (hematoxylin and eosin stain). Scale bar = 100 μm; B: High power magnification (× 40). Lymphatic malformation of the small bowel. Seen are multiple, thin-walled endothelial-lined cystic spaces filled with pale eosinophilic fluid, separated by delicate fibrous septa, with scattered lymphocytes (hematoxylin and eosin stain). Scale bar = 50 μm. Stars (A, B): Cystically dilated lymphatic channels with pale eosinophilic proteinaceous material in lumen.

Figure 4  Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews flow diagram.