Cystic lymphangioma of the duodenum revealed by digestive hemorrhage and associated with exudative enteropathy

Cystic lymphangioma is a rare and benign congenital lesion of the lymphatic system, which can become manifest at any age. Intra-abdominal cysts are found in less than 10% of cases and mesenteric involvement is the most common. The case of a patient with intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma that involved the liver, the spleen, the kidney and the small intestine, and complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding and protein losing enteropathy is reported herein. Despite severe gastro-intestinal manifestations, spontaneous outcome was favorable. This observation suggests that a) duodenal cystic lymphangioma must be considered as a cause of gastrointestinal bleeding and of protein losing enteropathy, b) conservative treatment can be proposed.