3.3 Clinical Features
Thirteen patients, 54.2%, had other lymphatic or vascular malformations including 4 patients with PROS, 3 with Generalized Lymphatic Anomaly (GLA), 2 with Capillary Venous Lymphatic malformation (CVLM), and 4 with other lymphatic malformations. Twelve patients, 50%, presented with abdominal pain, 20.8% were discovered incidentally on screening imaging, 16.7% presented with abdominal distension, rectal bleeding, or a palpable abdominal mass, and one was diagnosed incidentally during an inguinal hernia repair.
All patients in our study underwent some form of imaging to either confirm or diagnose ILM. Ultrasound and computed tomography scan were often performed, typically used in order to work up a patient with abdominal signs or symptoms or as part of a workup for another issue (i.e., trauma work up). Once an intra-abdominal malformation was identified, MRI was utilized in all patients as the primary modality of imaging for more complete evaluation of the ILM, surveillance, and treatment and intervention planning.