[Lymphangiomatosis of bone in childhood (author's transl)].

Lymphangiomatosis of bone is a very rare congenital malformation of lymph vessels. So far 60 patients have been described with this disease (43 children, 17 adults). Radiologically the lymphangiomatous skeletal changes usually consist of circumscribed areas of uni- or multi-focal osteolysis. They may remain asymptomatic for years; in a few cases intrathoracic chylous effusions or pathological fractures have occurred. The protean radiological appearances of bone lymphangiomatosis are illustrated by four children. The differential diagnosis is discussed in detail.