3.3 Clinical Features
Thirteen patients, 54.2%, had other lymphatic or vascular malformations
including 4 patients with PROS, 3 with Generalized Lymphatic Anomaly
(GLA), 2 with Capillary Venous Lymphatic malformation (CVLM), and 4 with
other lymphatic malformations. Twelve patients, 50%, presented with
abdominal pain, 20.8% were discovered incidentally on screening
imaging, 16.7% presented with abdominal distension, rectal bleeding, or
a palpable abdominal mass, and one was diagnosed incidentally during an
inguinal hernia repair.
All patients in our study underwent some form of imaging to either
confirm or diagnose ILM. Ultrasound and computed tomography scan were
often performed, typically used in order to work up a patient with
abdominal signs or symptoms or as part of a workup for another issue
(i.e., trauma work up). Once an intra-abdominal malformation was
identified, MRI was utilized in all patients as the primary modality of
imaging for more complete evaluation of the ILM, surveillance, and
treatment and intervention planning.