Rapid Development of an Axillary Mass in an Adult: A Case of Cystic Hygroma
Rapid Development of an Axillary Mass in an Adult: A Case of Cystic Hygroma
Cystic hygroma is a congenital anomaly of lymphatic origin, which mainly develops during childhood. Its development in adulthood, however, has been proposed to be related to several predisposing factors such as trauma, infection, tumor growth or iatrogenic stimuli. The development of cystic hygroma in the extremities of adults is extremely rare and moreover, its development in the axillary region has, to our knowledge, been reported only once in the literature. We describe an unusual case of a cystic hygroma which developed rapidly in the axillary region of a female patient in the absence of any predisposing factor. The diagnostic workup and the need for surgical excision of the mass to obtain an accurate, histologic diagnosis is presented.
Cystic hygromas (CH) are rare tumors of lymphatic origin, which are considered to be a congenital malformation of the lymphatic vessels, most likely related to failure of blind clusters of lymph sacs to join the lymphatic system during development. They account for 6% of all pediatric soft tissue tumors; 90% of cases are diagnosed by the age of 2 and they predominantly develop in the cervicofacial region (75%) and axilla (20%).
However, the development of cystic hygromas in adults has been proposed to be related to delayed proliferation of cell rests. Formation in sites other than the head and neck region, such as the thoracic wall, shoulder, breast, mediastinum, intra-abdominal region, retroperitoneum, and pelvis has been reported.
To the best of our knowledge, the development of CH in the axilla during adulthood has been reported only once in the English literature.
We describe an unusual case of CH development in the axillary region of a female patient over a 12-hour period of time in the absence of any predisposing factors.
Cystic hygroma is a congenital anomaly of lymphatic origin, which mainly develops during childhood. Its development in adulthood, however, has been proposed to be related to several predisposing factors such as trauma, infection, tumor growth or iatrogenic stimuli. The development of cystic hygroma in the extremities of adults is extremely rare and moreover, its development in the axillary region has, to our knowledge, been reported only once in the literature. We describe an unusual case of a cystic hygroma which developed rapidly in the axillary region of a female patient in the absence of any predisposing factor. The diagnostic workup and the need for surgical excision of the mass to obtain an accurate, histologic diagnosis is presented.
Cystic hygromas (CH) are rare tumors of lymphatic origin, which are considered to be a congenital malformation of the lymphatic vessels, most likely related to failure of blind clusters of lymph sacs to join the lymphatic system during development. They account for 6% of all pediatric soft tissue tumors; 90% of cases are diagnosed by the age of 2 and they predominantly develop in the cervicofacial region (75%) and axilla (20%).
However, the development of cystic hygromas in adults has been proposed to be related to delayed proliferation of cell rests. Formation in sites other than the head and neck region, such as the thoracic wall, shoulder, breast, mediastinum, intra-abdominal region, retroperitoneum, and pelvis has been reported.
To the best of our knowledge, the development of CH in the axilla during adulthood has been reported only once in the English literature.
We describe an unusual case of CH development in the axillary region of a female patient over a 12-hour period of time in the absence of any predisposing factors.