Lymph cyst

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Classification according to ICD-10
I89.8 Other specified non-infectious diseases of the lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes
ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019)

Lymph cysts ( engl. Lymph cyst ) are provided with lymph -filled (lymph) widening of lymphatic vessels at or below the skin ( subcutaneously ). The cavity surrounding the lymph is formed by the endothelium of the lymphatic vessels. If the lymph cyst is on the surface of the skin, it is also called a lymph vesicle .

differentiation

The lymphocele must be differentiated from the lymph cyst , even if the terms are incorrectly used synonymously in some publications. The lymphocele is the accumulation of lymph fluid in an anatomically not intended space, which consequently has no lining with endothelial cells.

Description and pathogenesis

In most cases, lymph cysts are bulges that originate from a lymphangion and often occur as a result of secondary lymphedema . Internal lymph cysts can very rarely occur as a congenital malformation. Malformations of the large lymph vessels are then the cause of the lymph cysts.

When a lymphatic vessel is blocked, pressure builds up in it through the pumping action of the lymphangion. In addition, the lymphangions react to the lymphatic congestion with an increased contraction. Since the surrounding tissue and the skin cannot withstand this pressure, the capillary vessels expand and ultimately the lymph cysts develop.

The lymph of the lymph cysts is clear as water. The cysts are a few millimeters in diameter. Fresh superficial lymph cysts can be easily pushed away. Later this will no longer work as the vesicles develop into a fibroma .

Subcutaneous lymph cysts are found individually or in groups, usually in the abdominal cavity or in the pelvis and are usually an incidental finding.

therapy

Superficial, smaller, especially pedunculated, lymph cysts can be tied off with a thread. Otherwise, surgical removal is easy. Internal lymph cysts only need to be removed if they are constricting other organs or vessels . The procedure is usually performed laparoscopically (minimally invasive). In other cases, internal lymph cysts are completely harmless and can be left in the body.

Individual evidence

  1. C. Schuchhardt and U. Herpertz: Lymphologische Terminologie.  ( Page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. In: LymphForsch 4, 2000, pp. 31-33.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.dglymph.de  
  2. Peter Reuter: Springer Lexicon Medicine. Springer, Berlin a. a. 2004, ISBN 3-540-20412-1 , p. 1292.
  3. ^ W. Siegenthaler: Clinical Pathophysiology. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-13-449609-7 , p. 749.
  4. a b c d U. Herpertz: Edema and Lymph Drainage: Diagnosis and Therapy of Edema Diseases. Schattauer Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-7945-2488-8 , pp. 141-142.