Recurrence of cutaneous lymphangioma after surgical resection: its features and manner

Twenty-five cutaneous lymphangiomas were treated surgically. The recurrence rate of mixed type lymphangioma was higher than the other types. The recurrence rate of the patients with lesion present at birth was significantly higher than that of the patients in whom the lesion occurred later. The interval from age at onset to the first operation was significantly shorter in the patients without recurrence than in the patients with recurrence. In conclusion, our study shows that the lesion must be resected as early as possible to prevent recurrence. Moreover, the following should be specially considered; recurrence rate is higher in mixed type lymphangioma, recurrence is more likely to occur when the interval from age at onset to the first operation is long or in the patients with a lesion present at birth.