[SkiptoContent]FindcareatNemoursChildren'sHealthDoctorsLocationsSharetoFacebookSharetoTwitterSharetoPinterestShareviaEmailKidsHealth/Parents/LymphaticMalformationsLymphaticMalformationsReviewedby:CraigM.Johnson,DOInterventionalRadiologyatNemoursChildren'sHealthListenPlayStop Volume mp3SettingsClosePlayerLargertextsizeLargetextsizeRegulartextsizePrintenespañolMalformacioneslinfáticasWhatAreLymphaticMalformations?Alymphaticmalformationisaclumpofabnormallymphvesselsthatformagrowing,disorganized,spongyclusterofcysts.Lymphaticmalformationsappearasmasses(unusualgrowths),buttheyarebenign(notcancerous).WhatHappensinLymphaticMalformations?Thelymphatic(lim-FAT-ik)systemisanetworkoftubesthatcollectslymph(LIMF)frombodytissueandkeepsbodyfluidlevelsbalanced.Thisclear,paleyellowfluiddrainsoutofbloodvesselsalloverthebody.Thelymphaticsystemreturnsthelymphtothebloodstream.Lymphaticmalformationsgrowbecausethelymphintheirabnormalvesselscan'tdrainoutwellandusuallyareseparatefromthenormalvesselsystem.Thismakesthemswell,whichisknownasaflare.Lymphaticmalformationsalsogrowbecausetheycontainfragilemalformedveinsintheirwallsthatbleedveryeasily.Thelymphaticmalformationcanfillwithblood.Thepoolinglymphorbloodstretchesthevesselsandcysts,makingthelymphaticmalformationgrowlarger.Ifit'sclosetotheskinsurface,itcanlookbruised.Asalymphaticmalformationgrows,itmayputpressureonnearbybodyparts,suchastheeyes,trachea(windpipe),orbloodvessels.Lymphaticmalformationsmayforminsideskin,fat,connectivetissue,joints,organs,orbones.Theycanformanywhereinthebodybutthebrain,andaremostcommonintheheadandneckarea.Therearetwomaintypesoflymphaticmalformations:microcysticlymphaticmalformationsarespongyandhavesmallvesselsandtinycysts.macrocysticlymphaticmalformations(alsocalledcystichygromasorlymphangiomas)havelarge,stretchedvesselsandcystsfilledwithlymph,bloodfrominternalbleeding,orboth.WhatAretheSigns&SymptomsofLymphaticMalformations?Alymphaticmalformationusuallyappearsasagrowing,spongy-feelinglump.Achildcanhavemorethanonely