Lymphangiomas, also called lymphatic malformations, are noncancerous, fluid-filled cysts that occur in lymphatic vessels. These vessels contain a substance ...HealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectSubscribeWhatIsLymphangioma?MedicallyreviewedbyKarenGill,M.D.—WrittenbyDonnaChristiano—UpdatedonSeptember15,2017SymptomsPicturesCausesTypesDiagnosisTreatmentOutlookOverviewLymphangiomas,alsocalledlymphaticmalformations,arenoncancerous,fluid-filledcyststhatoccurinlymphaticvessels.Thesevesselscontainasubstancecalledlymph,andtogethertheymakeupthelymphaticsystem.Lymphhelpstoproperlyregulatefluidinbodytissue.Lymphalsoworkswiththeimmunesystemtohelpfightinfection.It’sestimatedthatlymphangiomaoccursinabout1in4,000births.Theycanaffectnearlyanypartofthebody,butaremostcommonontheheadorneck.About75percentoflymphangiomasarelocatedinthisregion.Halfofalllymphangiomasintheheadorneckarerecognizedatbirth,and90percentwillbeapparentbyage2.SymptomsoflymphangiomaYoucanhaveonelymphangiomalocalizedtoacertainareaormanythroughoutthebody.Symptomsvarybasedonthesizeandlocationofthelymphangioma.Lymphangiomasmayappearastinyreddishorbluedots.Aslymphaccumulates,theycancreatesignificantanddeformingswellingandmasses.Dependingonwheretheswellingislocatedandthetissueororgansaffected,serioushealthproblemscanoccur.Forexample,aswollentonguecancausespeechandeatingdifficulties.Lymphangiomasoftheeyesocketcancausedoublevision.Lymphangiomasaffectingthechestmayresultindifficultybreathingandchestpain.PicturesoflymphangiomaCausesofthisconditionLymphangiomasoccurwhenlymphbacksupinthelymphvesselssurroundingthebody’stissues.Thatcausespoolingandswelling.Expertsaren’texactlysurewhythisoccurs,buttheythinkitmighthappenwhenthere’sanerrorincelldivisionduringfetaldevelopment.Thiserrorcancauseadysfunctionallymphaticsystem.Lymphangiomacanalsosometimesoccurinbabiesbornwithtoomanyornotenoughchromosomes,suchasthosewithDownsyndromeandNoonansyndrome.Mostwithlymphangiomasarebornwiththem.Theymaynotbeapparentatbirth,butcanbecomemorenoticeablea