Medical expert of the article
New publications
Lymphangioma of the skin: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Lymphangioma of the skin is a benign tumor of the lymphatic vessels. Lymphangioma exists from birth or develops in childhood.
Symptoms of skin lymphangioma. Lymphangiomas may be secondary as a result of impaired lymph circulation. There are three types of lymphangiomas: capillary (simple), cystic and cavernous. They are located on any part of the skin and mucous membranes, most often on the neck, in the oral cavity, on the upper limbs. Capillary lymphangiomas are characterized by the presence of small bubbles, often multiple, filled with transparent fluid, located in groups. Lymphangiomas may have a purple color due to the admixture of blood.
With capillary (simple) lymphangioma, a spot first appears, which then turns into a dense plaque with a bluish tint, rising above the skin level.
Cystic lymphangioma is characterized by the appearance of grouped bubble-like elements in a limited area (usually the face, neck, armpits). The elements are transparent or translucent and are located on an edematous, compacted background.
With cavernous lymphangioma, large multiple tumors appear on an edematous dense base. The skin over the nodes has a normal color or becomes bluish-brown. Papillomatosis and hyperkeratosis may develop against the background of cavernous and cystic lymphangiomas.
Histopathology of skin lymphangioma. All forms of lymphangioma reveal dilation of the lymphatic vessels of the superficial and deep parts of the dermis, development of fibrous tissue, and acanthosis and papillomatosis in the epidermis.
Pathomorphology of skin lymphangioma. In the upper part of the dermis there are cystic-dilated lymphatic vessels lined with one layer of endotheliocytes. Sometimes, in addition to lymph, they contain a few erythrocytes. The thickness of the epidermis is uneven, it usually becomes thinner above the cysts. In other areas there may be acanthosis with unevenly expressed epidermal growths and papillomatosis. Some sharply dilated vessels appear to be included in the epidermis. Dilation of the lymphatic vessels can be observed up to the middle part of the dermis, but not below. In cystic lymphangioma, hyperkeratosis and papillomatosis are more pronounced, the increase in the lumen of the lymphatic vessels extends into the subcutaneous tissue, where dilated large-caliber lymphatic vessels with hypertrophied muscle walls can often be seen. In the cavernous form, wide, irregularly shaped cracks, often containing red blood cells, form in the deep parts of the dermis and in the subcutaneous fatty tissue. In the area of the lips and tongue, lymphatic cracks are located between the muscle bundles, pushing them apart, as a result of which the tissue has a spongy appearance.
Differential diagnosis. Lymphangiomas are differentiated from limited scleroderma and congenital elephantiasis.
Treatment of skin lymphangioma. Surgical removal of the tumor is performed.
[ What do need to examine?
How to examine?