Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (847 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A benign tumor resulting from a congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. Lymphangioendothelioma is a type of lymphangioma in which endothelial cells are the dominant component.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Lymphangiomas; Lymphangioendothelioma; Lymphangioendotheliomas; Endothelioma, Lymphatic; Endotheliomas, Lymphatic; Lymphatic Endothelioma; Lymphatic Endotheliomas; Lymphangioma, Cavernous.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Neoplasm, Lymphatic Tissue
- Narrower topics
- Lymphangioma, Cystic
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 6,284 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Lymphangioma” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 440 of them (7.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 3,518 records.
Reviews account for 614 records (9.8%) and meta-analyses for 5. Randomized controlled trials number 2 (0.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 3,518 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,224 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,102 |
| 2020 onward | 440 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 614 | 9.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 5 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 2 | 0.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Lymphangioma"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in cancer and oncology
Cancer research spans very different kinds of evidence. Laboratory studies in cell lines and animal models reveal mechanisms but often do not translate to patients. Early-phase trials mainly test safety and dosing, while phase 3 randomized trials and their meta-analyses are the usual basis for treatment conclusions. Outcomes also differ in meaning: tumour shrinkage, progression-free survival and overall survival are not interchangeable, and screening studies can be distorted by lead-time and overdiagnosis. When reading a result, check the cancer type and stage studied, the comparison treatment, and which outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics of adult abdominal cystic Lymphangioma: a single-center Chinese cohort of 12 cases | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 30 | cc by PMID 32727377 · DOI · PMC7391610 |
| Using deep-learning in fetal ultrasound analysis for diagnosis of cystic hygroma in the first trimester | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 20 | cc by PMID 35731736 · DOI · PMC9216531 |
| Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 16 | cc by PMID 32200557 · DOI · PMC7317503 |
| Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular tumors, vascular malformations, lymphatic malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022 | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 41881561 · DOI · PMC13017083 |
Characteristics of adult abdominal cystic Lymphangioma: a single-center Chinese cohort of 12 cases [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundCystic lymphangioma is a rare, benign developmental disease, mostly affecting the cervical and axial regions.
- Closing excerpt
- The analysis of this cohort deepens our understanding of adult ACL.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (262 words)
BackgroundCystic lymphangioma is a rare, benign developmental disease, mostly affecting the cervical and axial regions. The clinical features of abdominal cystic lymphangioma (ACL) are reported among pediatric patients but are less well known in adults. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the clinical characteristics of ACL in Chinese adults and describe our experience in treating this disease.MethodsWe conducted a single-center, non-interventional, retrospective study of 12 adult patients with ACL admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, China from November 1984 through August 2017. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, histopathologic, and therapeutic data were collected.ResultsDetailed information on seven males and five females was available. The mean age at diagnosis was 39.1 (SD 17.3) years. The mean duration of follow-up was 6.9 years. Six (50%) patients were asymptomatic, and abdominal pain was the leading symptom for three (25%) patients. The cysts were evaluated by ultrasound (n = 8, 67%), CT (n = 10, 83%), and MRI (n = 4, 33%). Therapeutic modalities include laparotomy (n = 6, 50%), laparoscopy (n = 4, 33%), and aspiration (n = 2, 17%), with variable outcomes. The mean postsurgical hospital stay was 6.8 days. Complete excision was accomplished in eight patients, and one recurrence was observed during follow-up. Of patients who underwent partial resection, one experienced disease relapse.ConclusionsThis is the first report on an Asian cohort of adult patients with ACL. Typical imaging features could lead to timely diagnosis and treatment of ACL. Radical resection is recommended with a longer period of follow-up. The analysis of this cohort deepens our understanding of adult ACL.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32727377 · DOI · PMC7391610
Using deep-learning in fetal ultrasound analysis for diagnosis of cystic hygroma in the first trimester [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveTo develop and internally validate a deep-learning algorithm from fetal ultrasound images for the diagnosis of cystic hygromas in the first trimester.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that deep-learning algorithms can achieve high accuracy in diagnostic interpretation of cystic hygroma in the first trimester, validated against expert clinical assessment.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (210 words)
ObjectiveTo develop and internally validate a deep-learning algorithm from fetal ultrasound images for the diagnosis of cystic hygromas in the first trimester.MethodsAll first trimester ultrasound scans with a diagnosis of a cystic hygroma between 11 and 14 weeks gestation at our tertiary care centre in Ontario, Canada were studied. Ultrasound scans with normal nuchal translucency were used as controls. The dataset was partitioned with 75% of images used for model training and 25% used for model validation. Images were analyzed using a DenseNet model and the accuracy of the trained model to correctly identify cases of cystic hygroma was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Gradient class activation heat maps (Grad-CAM) were generated to assess model interpretability.ResultsThe dataset included 289 sagittal fetal ultrasound images;129 cystic hygroma cases and 160 normal NT controls. Overall model accuracy was 93% (95% CI: 88-98%), sensitivity 92% (95% CI: 79-100%), specificity 94% (95% CI: 91-96%), and the area under the ROC curve 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89-1.0). Grad-CAM heat maps demonstrated that the model predictions were driven primarily by the fetal posterior cervical area.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that deep-learning algorithms can achieve high accuracy in diagnostic interpretation of cystic hygroma in the first trimester, validated against expert clinical assessment.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35731736 · DOI · PMC9216531
Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes.
- Closing excerpt
- Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (183 words)
The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQ) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for published work searches were set for each CQ, and work published from 1980 to the end of September 2014 was searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina databases. The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution System technique. A total of 33 CQ were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, and pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32200557 · DOI · PMC7317503
Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular tumors, vascular malformations, lymphatic malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022 [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety, and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes.
- Closing excerpt
- Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Tumors, Vascular Malformations, Lymphatic Malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (192 words)
The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety, and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQs) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for literature searches were set for each CQ and literature published from 1980 to the end of December 2020 was searched in PubMed and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (JCRM). The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds) technique. A total of 38 CQs were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy, and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis, and causal genes of vascular anomalies. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Tumors, Vascular Malformations, Lymphatic Malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41881561 · DOI · PMC13017083
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Vascular anomalies [5]
- Research article Thoracic lymphangiomas, lymphangiectasis, lymphangiomatosis, and lymphatic dysplasia syndrome [6]
- Research article Imaging and therapeutic approach of hemangiomas and vascular malformations in the pediatric age group [7]
- Research article Intralesional bleomycin injection (IBI) treatment for haemangiomas and congenital vascular malformations [8]
- Research article Lymphatic malformations: review of current treatment [9]
- Research article Genomic microarray in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency and normal karyotype: a systematic review and meta-analysis [10]
References
- Xiao J, Shao Y, Zhu S, He X. Characteristics of adult abdominal cystic Lymphangioma: a single-center Chinese cohort of 12 cases. . 2020. PMID 32727377 · DOI · PMC7391610
- Walker MC, Willner I, Miguel OX, Murphy MSQ, El-Chaâr D, Moretti F, et al.. Using deep-learning in fetal ultrasound analysis for diagnosis of cystic hygroma in the first trimester. . 2022. PMID 35731736 · DOI · PMC9216531
- Mimura H, Akita S, Fujino A, Jinnin M, Ozaki M, Osuga K, et al.. Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017. . 2020. PMID 32200557 · DOI · PMC7317503
- Kinoshita Y, Ishikawa K, Akita S, Koh K, Sasaki S, Jinnin M, et al.. Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular tumors, vascular malformations, lymphatic malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022. . 2026. PMID 41881561 · DOI · PMC13017083
- Mulliken JB, Fishman SJ, Burrows PE. Vascular anomalies. Curr Probl Surg. 2000. PMID 10955029 · DOI
- Faul JL, Berry GJ, Colby TV, Ruoss SJ, Walter MB, Rosen GD, et al.. Thoracic lymphangiomas, lymphangiectasis, lymphangiomatosis, and lymphatic dysplasia syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000. PMID 10712360 · DOI
- Dubois J, Garel L. Imaging and therapeutic approach of hemangiomas and vascular malformations in the pediatric age group. Pediatr Radiol. 1999. PMID 10602864 · DOI
- Muir T, Kirsten M, Fourie P, Dippenaar N, Ionescu GO. Intralesional bleomycin injection (IBI) treatment for haemangiomas and congenital vascular malformations. Pediatr Surg Int. 2004. PMID 14740248 · DOI
- Perkins JA, Manning SC, Tempero RM, Cunningham MJ, Edmonds JL, Hoffer FA, et al.. Lymphatic malformations: review of current treatment. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010. PMID 20493348 · DOI
- Grande M, Jansen FA, Blumenfeld YJ, Fisher A, Odibo AO, Haak MC, et al.. Genomic microarray in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency and normal karyotype: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2015. PMID 25900824 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
See how EvidenceLib is built. Spotted an error? Email support@evidencehelix.com.
Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.