Abstract
Introduction: Cystic hygroma is a benign congenital lymphatic malformation, usually present in infancy and rare cases in adults. It can pose challenges in diagnosis and management.
Case Report: This is a case of cystic hygroma in a 4-year-old boy with painless swellings of the left knee and scrotum from birth, which have been increasing in size. The patient presented with his mother to an outreach program organized by the Ghana section of the International College of Surgeons (ICS) at Worawora Regional Hospital in the Oti region of Ghana. Examination revealed soft, fluctuant, non-tender and transilluminating swellings in the scrotum, the medial aspect and the suprapatellar region of the left knee. Bedside ultrasonography assessment revealed multiloculated cystic masses in the regions mentioned above. Our surgical team performed an excision biopsy of the swellings under general anaesthesia. We found multiple lobulated cystic masses in the scrotum, the medial aspect, and the suprapatellar regions of the left knee. Histopathology examination of the excised masses microscopically showed cystic spaces filled with eosinophilic material with areas of fibrous and fat lobules and also some blood vessels containing erythrocytes. A diagnosis of cystic hygroma was made. Excision was complete, and all wounds healed well over 6 'weeks' follow-up.
Conclusion: The occurrence of cystic hygroma found at multiple sites makes it an interesting case. The creation of awareness can help raise an index of suspicion among clinicians, especially when patients are seen with multiple swellings on any part of the body from childhood
Keywords
- Cystic hygroma
- lymphangioma
- congenital anomaly
- surgical excision
- multidisciplinary approach