A 36-year-old woman without any relevant medical history was admitted to our hospital with an abdominal tumor that had caused recurrent right hypochondral and back pain for 3 months. Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography. We suc-cessfully excised the tumor laparoscopically. Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangiomas are rare lesions that usually present in infancy, rather than in adulthood. Most patients experience chronic symptoms, necessitating therapeutic intervention. Excision is the treatment of choice, and can be performed laparoscopically in selected patients.