Lymphangiomatosis and Gorham's Disease

As the readers of Lymphatic Research and Biology will already recognize, this journal has a deep and abiding commitment to the broad spectrum of lymphatic health and disease, encompassing, of course, the vascular malformations of the lymphatic circulation.^1–5 Regrettably, perusal of the journal's archives will not disclose a great deal of material that addresses the spectrum of systemic lymphangiomatosis and Gorham's disease. This disease spectrum affects a patient population that is small in number, but the effects of the disease(s) are devastating. Furthermore, the importance of the pathological problem extends beyond the size of the patient population: nested within our ignorance over the pathogenesis of lymphangiomatosis are, undoubtedly, important secrets to be disclosed about the basic mechanisms of lymphatic development and structural organization.

The absence of these diseases from our pages reflects the more regrettable fact that there is little active investigation of these conditions that is ongoing at this time. It is with the hope of rectifying this absence of research activity that Lymphatic Research and Biology is pleased to present its readership with this issue dedicated to the spectrum of lymphangiomatosis and Gorham's Disease. It is our hope that a succinct summary of the clinical and research state-of-the-art will re-invigorate interest in, and emphasis upon, this subject.

We are privileged to have Dr. Francine Blei, the Associate Editor of the Journal, in the role of Guest Editor for this issue. Dr. Blei brings to this task her longstanding expertise in vascular anomalies and her abiding passion for lymphatic diseases. She has assembled a wonderful collection of manuscripts to highlight the current state of knowledge (and ignorance) in this paradoxically neglected area of lymphatic health and disease.