Clinical analysis of misdiagnosis of genital lymphatic fistula as vascular malformation in children and literature review
LI Sanlin
JIAO Yuhao
WANG Chi
CHEN Chenghao
GUO Xiangfeng
CAO Jiajie
DONG Hongyang
XIONG Yi
DI Qi
SHEN Gang
Abstract：Objective To explore the causes of misdiagnosis of genital lymphatic fistula in children and measures to prevent misdiagnosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 4 children with genital lymphatic fistula misdiagnosed as vascular malformation admitted from 2021 to 2024.Results A total of 4 pediatric patients were included in this study.Two male children presented with swelling of the penis and scrotum,and two female children presented with swelling in the external genitalia,including one patient with scattered white follicles on the surface of the external genitalia and one patient with lower limb swelling.All four children were misdiagnosed with vascular malformation,and ultimately diagnosed with genital lymphatic fistula by lymphatic imaging under general anesthesia.Misdiagnosis lasted 10 months to 60 months.After diagnosis,all patients underwent lipiodol embolization therapy.Follow-up at 1 year after surgery showed significant improvement in swelling and lymphatic fistula in the affected area of the child.Conclusion The swelling of the perineum is often caused by vascular malformation,while lymphedema is relatively rare.The clinical and imaging manifestations of the two are similar,and they are prone to misdiagnosis.Detailed medical history should be inquired,and if necessary,lymphatic imaging should be performed to confirm the diagnosis and avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment.
Keywords：lymphatic fistulaperineummisdiagnosisvascular malformationslymphangiographyembolismchildren
Publication Date：2025-09-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-10-17(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 1-6 )