Pelvic Lymphocyst: Diagnosis and Management

PELVIC lymphocyst was first described in the American literature by Gray and associates in 1958.¹ Since then the presence of the lesion has been reported by several authors under the synonymous designations, lymphocyst and lymphocele.^2-4 The incidence of this complication of pelvic lymphadenectomy varies from 1%⁵ to 48.5%.⁶ Although a number of these lesions have been symptomatic due to pressure against adjacent structures, particularly the ureter, or are associated with pronounced lymphedema of the lower extremities, the majority are silent. This has unquestionably produced the wide variation in reported incidence. The purpose of the present paper is to stress the importance of postoperative lymphangiography in the diagnosis of lymphocyst and to review current concepts of etiology and management.

One hundred and twenty-eight pelvic lymphadenectomies were done during the six-year period ending Dec 31, 1966, at the New York Medical College, Metropolitan Medical Center. All but four