Clinical characteristics of lymphangiomas and differential diagnosis
| Age at presentation | Childhood (90% <2 years-old) |
| Aetiology | Congenital Acquired when in the context of chronic lymphatic obstruction due to chronic infection, radiation therapy or trauma |
| Sex predilection | None in early diagnosis, female when diagnosed in adults |
| Thoracic manifestations | Intrapulmonary mass Mediastinal mass (equal distribution among compartments) Chylous pleural or chylous pericardial effusion |
| Extrathoracic manifestations | Head, neck, axilla, abdomen, bones |
| Classification | Capillary or simple, cavernous, cystic |
| Natural history | No spontaneous resolution Secondary infections may occur |
| Differential diagnosis [9] | Lymphangiectasis (primary or secondary) Lymphangiomatosis Lymphatic dysplasia syndromes (e.g. lymphedema, yellow nail syndrome) Lymphangiosarcoma Acquired lymphatic injuries (e.g. traumatic) Other lymphatic abnormalities (e.g. lymphangioleiomyomatosis, lymphangiolipomas, haemangiolymphangiomas) |