Abdominal lymphangioma in a preterm infant.

A newborn infant, noted on prenatal ultrasonography to have a huge, multiseptated cystic intraabdominal mass, had severe respiratory failure at birth because of a massively distended abdomen. Acute treatment included removal of 1.7 L of serous fluid, aggressive respiratory support, and numerous diagnostic studies. Definitive therapy was excision of the cyst by laparoscopy. Pathologic examination showed cystic lymphangioma.