Cystic hygroma is uncommon among adults and it is reported that the number of adults
with cystic hygroma is less than 100 in the literature and the cases located in the thorax are very rare among the cystic
hygromas. The rupture of rectus abdominis muscle is a very rare situation, too.
The 36 years old female case presented in this article was diagnosed as rheumatoid
arthritis first, later surgery was proposed for cystic hygroma. But, medical treatment
was applied to her because she did not accept the surgical operation. One year after the beginning of the medical therapy,
the rupture of the rectus muscles were determined during the operation in the hospital where she was transported because of
the abdominal pain as a rupture and swelling on the epigastrium following a coughing. Medico-legal
autopsy was performed on her body because of the death of the patient one week after the hospitalization.
This case was presented because of being the first case in the literature, treatment
of cystic hygroma and rheumatoid arthritis accompanied the rupture of rectus abdominis.
Key words: Lymphangioma, Cystic hygroma, rheumatoid arthritis, adult, thoracic wall, rupture, rectus
abdominis.
