Cervical lymphangioma with myxoid degeneration: a rare case report and literature review

Abstract

BackgroundLymphangioma is a multi-systemic disease mostly affecting the mesentery, omentum, mesocolon and retroperitoneum and rarely involving bone, with fewer than 30 cases reported so far. Lymphangioma usually has no specific clinical manifestation and could be easily misdiagnosed. Lymphangioma with myxoid degeneration was not reported. We report a histopathologically proved case of lymphangioma of 6th and 7th cervical vertebra (C6–7) with myxoid degeneration.Case presentationA 45-year-old male who suffered from pain in the right shoulder for 1 month, aggravated with numbness in the right little finger and ring finger and radiating pain for half a month. CT showed multiple cystic bone destruction areas in C6–7 vertebral right part and appendage with marginal osteosclerosis and surrounded by soft tissue density. The size of the lesion was about 36 mm × 41 mm . MRI: the margin of the lesion appears lobulated. Lesion showed slightly hypointense on T1WI, slightly hyperintense on T2WI and STIR. Multiple patchy T1WI hypointense and T2WI hyperintense shadows were seen within the lesion. No enhancement was observed in the lesion after injection of contrast, and there was no abnormal signal in surrounding soft tissue and bone. The histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lymphangioma with myxoid degeneration after surgical resection. After over 2 years of follow-up, there were no signs of disease recurrence and progression.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in English language literature of lymphangioma with myxoid degeneration.