Lymphatic Malformations

What are they?
Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are dilated lympatic channels.  These are congenital anomalies that arise from defective embryological development.  LMs are soft masses with normal over lying skin filled with proteinaceous fluid.  LMs usually appear at birth or early childhood.

Diagnosis
LMs can now be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound and even fetal MRI.  MRI imaging after birth will allow detailed information about treatment and extent.

Treatment
The treatments of choice for LMs are surgical removal and sclerotherapy.  Sclerotherapy is a procedure in which a medicine is injected into the LM, causing it to scar and shrink.