Benign tumors of the vulva that are not associated with infectious agents have been classified according to the cell of origin and may be either epithelial or mesenchymal. Among the mesenchymal tumors the vascular tumors include hemangiomas angiokeratomas and lymphangiomas. Simple sustained dilatation of lymphatic vessels is referred to as lymphangiectasia but when lymphatics are distended to tumor-like proportions the term lymphangioma is used. Congenital lymphangiomas are manifestations of vascular malformations of the lymphatic vessels and are classified as lymphangioma circumscriptum cavernous lymphangioma and cystic hygroma. The former presents as a localized group of small gelatinous papulo-vesicular or warty lesions and can occur in the skin throughout the body including the vulva. The latter two are skin-covered swellings that may result in grotesque enlargement of soft tissues are usually solitary and can involve the face trunk and extremities. Cystic hygromas occur commonly in the neck and sometimes in the upper mediastinum. (excerpt)
