Lymphangiectasia | |
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Lymphangiectasia shown on enteroscopy. | |
Specialty | Angiology |
Lymphangiectasia, also known as "lymphangiectasis",[1] is a pathologic dilation of lymph vessels.[2] When it occurs in the intestines it is known as intestinal lymphangiectasia, colloquially recognized as Waldmann's disease in cases where there is no secondary cause.[3] The primary defect lies in the inability of the lymphatic system to adequately drain lymph, resulting in its subsequent accumulation and leakage into the intestinal lumen.[3] This condition, first described by Waldmann in 1961, is typically diagnosed in infancy or early childhood.[3] However, it can also manifest in adults, exhibiting a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms.[3]