If they surgically remove a lymphangioma, what are the chances that it will recur?

17%, in one study: In a 1999 study of lymphangiomas in 186 children, 17% of patients had a recurrence after macroscopic complete (surgeon removed all tumor that he could see) surgical removal. Complete removal was in 145 children. Recurrence rates were higher (40% recurrence rate) with laser removal or with incomplete surgical removal. See the abstract of the study here: http://www.Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov/pubmed/10442614.

It can: Lymphangiomas are defects of the lymphatic system. They can be very invasive and infiltrating, therefore difficult to remove completely. Recurrence rate varies from 15-25%.