Also known as: Generalised lymphatic anomaly; GLA Background If your child is affected by a medical condition or disability we can help. Call our freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555 to get information, support and advice. You can also browse our range of parent guides on aspects of caring for a disabled child in our resource library. To meet other parents see support groups below or meet other parents online in our closed Facebook group Please see below for reliable medical information on Lymphangiomatosis published by Great Ormond Street Hospital. Great Ormond Street Hospitalwww.gosh.nhs.uk Although alternative links have been selected with great care, Contact cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or errors. Any medical information is provided for education/information purposes and is not designed to replace medical advice by a qualified medical professional. Is there support? Alfie Milne Lymphangiomatosis Trust Tel: 01224 735038 or 07765 408101Email: tracy@alfiemilne.org.ukWebsite: alfiemilne.org.uk The Trust is a Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC043165. The trust offers information and support for patients and families with Lymphangiomataosis or Gorham’s disease. They aim to raise awareness of the conditions, promote opportunities for research and to educate medical professionals, patients and family members about the conditions. The Trust also offers a quarterly newsletter, closed Facebook groups and links with partner organisations in Europe and the USA. Group details reviewed September 2021.
Is there support? Alfie Milne Lymphangiomatosis Trust Tel: 01224 735038 or 07765 408101Email: tracy@alfiemilne.org.ukWebsite: alfiemilne.org.uk The Trust is a Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC043165. The trust offers information and support for patients and families with Lymphangiomataosis or Gorham’s disease. They aim to raise awareness of the conditions, promote opportunities for research and to educate medical professionals, patients and family members about the conditions. The Trust also offers a quarterly newsletter, closed Facebook groups and links with partner organisations in Europe and the USA. Group details reviewed September 2021.
Is there support? Alfie Milne Lymphangiomatosis Trust Tel: 01224 735038 or 07765 408101Email: tracy@alfiemilne.org.ukWebsite: alfiemilne.org.uk The Trust is a Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC043165. The trust offers information and support for patients and families with Lymphangiomataosis or Gorham’s disease. They aim to raise awareness of the conditions, promote opportunities for research and to educate medical professionals, patients and family members about the conditions. The Trust also offers a quarterly newsletter, closed Facebook groups and links with partner organisations in Europe and the USA. Group details reviewed September 2021.
If your child is affected by a medical condition or disability we can help. Call our freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555 to get information, support and advice. You can also browse our range of parent guides on aspects of caring for a disabled child in our resource library. To meet other parents see support groups below or meet other parents online in our closed Facebook group Please see below for reliable medical information on Lymphoedema produced by alternative providers. NHS websitewww.nhs.uk/conditions Although alternative links have been selected with great care, Contact cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or errors. Alternative information providers give details of their quality control procedures on their website, which includes review of information by a qualified medical professional. Is there support? The Lymphoedema Support Network Tel: 020 7351 4480Email: admin@lsn.org.ukWebsite: lymphoedema.org The Network is a Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1018749. It provides information and support to people with lymphoedema, and promotes a network of support groups throughout the UK. Group details last reviewed June 2023.
Is there support? The Lymphoedema Support Network Tel: 020 7351 4480Email: admin@lsn.org.ukWebsite: lymphoedema.org The Network is a Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1018749. It provides information and support to people with lymphoedema, and promotes a network of support groups throughout the UK. Group details last reviewed June 2023.
Is there support? The Lymphoedema Support Network Tel: 020 7351 4480Email: admin@lsn.org.ukWebsite: lymphoedema.org The Network is a Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 1018749. It provides information and support to people with lymphoedema, and promotes a network of support groups throughout the UK. Group details last reviewed June 2023.
Also known as: Cystic Hygroma Background Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are swellings, commonly in the head and neck area, which appear as a soft bulge under the skin. They are often called cystic hygromas. They are non-malignant (non-cancerous) malformations of lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic vessels allow lymph (a fluid that transports fats and immune system cells) to flow around the body. Credits Last updated February 2014 by Mr B Hartley, Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK. What are the symptoms? LMs cause soft lumps. There is a very wide range from tiny almost undetectable lumps to enormous ones. They are usually slow-growing and may spontaneously resolve or reduce in size. Rapid growth does occasionally occur if there is internal bleeding into the LM or if there is a complicating infection. Depending on the location of the LM, they may cause difficulty with eating and breathing. What are the causes? LMs are congenital (present from birth) and occur due to failure of the lymphatic channels to connect with the main lymphatic system of the body. How is it diagnosed? If the LMs are large they may be detected on prenatal ultrasound. If noted after birth, the diagnosis is on clinical basis. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are done to confirm the diagnosis and plan the management of the LM. How is it treated? Small LMs may not require any specific treatment except to wait and see how they develop. Larger ones that continue to grow may need to be actively treated. Large LMs present at birth may necessitate a tracheostomy to help with breathing if there is pressure on the airway – though this is rare. Laser treatment of LMs in the mouth can help to reduce their bulk to assist with eating. Surgical removal of LMs in either the mouth or neck has good results. Injecting attenuated (modified so it does not cause infection) bacteria into the LM can help to reduce size by causing a sclerosing reaction (hardening of tissue). Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis Inheritance patternsNone. Prenatal diagnosisIn some cases, the condition has been diagnosed through ultrasound scanning while in others it has remained undetected. This is because there is a wide variation in the extent to which LMs range in size – from a small growth on the neck to a very extensive mass of growths. Is there support? Cystic Hygroma and Lymphangioma Support Group (CHALSG) Tel: 07770 934 588Email: darrenbowler1@gmail.comWebsite: chalsg.org.uk The Group is a non-profit organisation that provides support to children and their parents, and adults with lymphatic malformations (Cystic hygroma or lymphangioma). It offers a support network so that families and individuals can speak to and meet others with the condition. Group details last updated September 2015.
What are the symptoms? LMs cause soft lumps. There is a very wide range from tiny almost undetectable lumps to enormous ones. They are usually slow-growing and may spontaneously resolve or reduce in size. Rapid growth does occasionally occur if there is internal bleeding into the LM or if there is a complicating infection. Depending on the location of the LM, they may cause difficulty with eating and breathing. What are the causes? LMs are congenital (present from birth) and occur due to failure of the lymphatic channels to connect with the main lymphatic system of the body. How is it diagnosed? If the LMs are large they may be detected on prenatal ultrasound. If noted after birth, the diagnosis is on clinical basis. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are done to confirm the diagnosis and plan the management of the LM. How is it treated? Small LMs may not require any specific treatment except to wait and see how they develop. Larger ones that continue to grow may need to be actively treated. Large LMs present at birth may necessitate a tracheostomy to help with breathing if there is pressure on the airway – though this is rare. Laser treatment of LMs in the mouth can help to reduce their bulk to assist with eating. Surgical removal of LMs in either the mouth or neck has good results. Injecting attenuated (modified so it does not cause infection) bacteria into the LM can help to reduce size by causing a sclerosing reaction (hardening of tissue). Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis Inheritance patternsNone. Prenatal diagnosisIn some cases, the condition has been diagnosed through ultrasound scanning while in others it has remained undetected. This is because there is a wide variation in the extent to which LMs range in size – from a small growth on the neck to a very extensive mass of growths. Is there support? Cystic Hygroma and Lymphangioma Support Group (CHALSG) Tel: 07770 934 588Email: darrenbowler1@gmail.comWebsite: chalsg.org.uk The Group is a non-profit organisation that provides support to children and their parents, and adults with lymphatic malformations (Cystic hygroma or lymphangioma). It offers a support network so that families and individuals can speak to and meet others with the condition. Group details last updated September 2015.
What are the symptoms? LMs cause soft lumps. There is a very wide range from tiny almost undetectable lumps to enormous ones. They are usually slow-growing and may spontaneously resolve or reduce in size. Rapid growth does occasionally occur if there is internal bleeding into the LM or if there is a complicating infection. Depending on the location of the LM, they may cause difficulty with eating and breathing.
What are the causes? LMs are congenital (present from birth) and occur due to failure of the lymphatic channels to connect with the main lymphatic system of the body.
How is it diagnosed? If the LMs are large they may be detected on prenatal ultrasound. If noted after birth, the diagnosis is on clinical basis. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are done to confirm the diagnosis and plan the management of the LM.
How is it treated? Small LMs may not require any specific treatment except to wait and see how they develop. Larger ones that continue to grow may need to be actively treated. Large LMs present at birth may necessitate a tracheostomy to help with breathing if there is pressure on the airway – though this is rare. Laser treatment of LMs in the mouth can help to reduce their bulk to assist with eating. Surgical removal of LMs in either the mouth or neck has good results. Injecting attenuated (modified so it does not cause infection) bacteria into the LM can help to reduce size by causing a sclerosing reaction (hardening of tissue).
Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis Inheritance patternsNone. Prenatal diagnosisIn some cases, the condition has been diagnosed through ultrasound scanning while in others it has remained undetected. This is because there is a wide variation in the extent to which LMs range in size – from a small growth on the neck to a very extensive mass of growths.
Is there support? Cystic Hygroma and Lymphangioma Support Group (CHALSG) Tel: 07770 934 588Email: darrenbowler1@gmail.comWebsite: chalsg.org.uk The Group is a non-profit organisation that provides support to children and their parents, and adults with lymphatic malformations (Cystic hygroma or lymphangioma). It offers a support network so that families and individuals can speak to and meet others with the condition. Group details last updated September 2015.