Removing a 25cm diameter cyst in the abdomen of a 3-year-old child

On August 22, information from Hai Phong Children's Hospital said that the hospital had just successfully performed laparoscopic surgery on an abdominal lymphatic cyst for patient V. D.Kh (3 years old).

Previously, Kh.'s family saw that her belly was big but did not take her to the doctor. Recently, Kh.'s mother saw that her child's skin was pale, his lips were sticky, and his belly was getting bigger, so she took him to a hospital in Hai Phong for a checkup.

Due to the seriousness of the disease, Kh. was transferred to Hai Phong Children's Hospital. Here, Kh. was examined, tested and had a CT scan. Doctors conducted a consultation, diagnosed the patient with acute anemia due to bleeding from an abdominal lymphatic cyst and indicated emergency laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopy image of patient Kh. shows a bleeding cyst, causing acute blood loss.

During the laparoscopic surgery and blood transfusion, the 25 cm diameter tumor, containing approximately 800 ml of fresh blood mixed with blood clots, was completely removed by the doctors. 12 hours after the surgery, the patient was able to eat milk and porridge. Kh. was discharged from the hospital after 1 week of treatment in good health.

Doctor Tran Minh Canh, Head of General Surgery Department (Hai Phong Children's Hospital), said that abdominal lymphatic cysts (abdominal lymphatic malformation) are rare cases, accounting for only 5% of total lymphatic abnormalities, often developing from the mesentery, greater omentum, digestive tract, and retroperitoneal space.

Clinical symptoms of the disease are often nonspecific: abdominal pain, abdominal mass or there may be indirect signs such as intestinal obstruction, intestinal torsion, vomiting, anemia... due to complications of the disease. Abdominal lymphatic cysts can be diagnosed based on ultrasound, computed tomography or abdominal magnetic resonance imaging.

Laparoscopic surgeons removed a lymphatic cyst in the abdomen of patient Kh.

Therefore, surgery is the main treatment method, emergency surgery is indicated in cases where large cysts cause compression, or there are signs of bleeding in the cyst. In cases where the cyst is in a difficult position and cannot be completely removed, additional sclerotherapy can be combined to dissolve the cyst.

Doctor Canh recommends that when detecting any unusual signs in children such as abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, pale skin, etc., parents should not be subjective, but should take their children to specialized pediatric hospitals for timely examination and treatment.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cat-bo-khoi-u-nang-duong-kinh-25-cm-trong-o-bung-be-3-tuoi-185240822135819773.htm