Endoscopic diagnosis of lymphangioma of the small intestine.

In three patients with lymphangioma of the small intestine, the preoperative diagnosis of lymphangioma was made by endoscopy with biopsy and radiology. A typical endoscopic finding was an elevated polypoid tumor, yellowish-white to tan. The surface was smooth, often with white specks, and could be impressed by touching lightly with biopsy forceps. Endoscopic examination revealed satellite lesions not detected radiologically. Lymphangioma has heretofore been successfully diagnosed preoperatively by endoscopy in the duodenum. This report of accurate preoperative diagnoses of lymphangioma in the small intestine, other than the duodenum, using endoscopy, may be the first to be documented.