Lymphangioma - Causes

Causes

The direct cause of lymphangioma is a blockage of the lymphatic system as a fetus develops, although symptoms may not become visible until after the baby is born. This blockage is thought to be caused by a number of factors, including maternal alcohol use and viral infections during pregnancy. Why the embryonic lymph sacs remain disconnected from the rest of the lymphatic system is not known.

Cystic lymphangioma that emerges during the first two trimesters of pregnancy is associated with genetic disorders such as Noonan syndrome and trisomies 13, 18, and 21. Chromosomal aneuploidy such as Turner syndrome or Down syndrome were found in 40% of patients with cystic hygroma.