Baby born with large cyst under arm undergoes life-saving surgery

By Emma Dunn

A baby was born with a cyst the size of an apple under his arm - and had to have the fluid drained from it when he was just two weeks old.

Little Easton Landes, now six months old, was born with lymphatic malformation - where lymph vessels form abnormally.

His parents Chelsea and Ryan Landes, both 29, were shocked when they saw a large lump underneath Easton's left arm and armpit.

They were initially told it was just a lump that could be surgically removed but when it got infected they took him to the emergency room and were told it looked like lymphatic malformation.

Easton underwent sclerotherapy - where a medicine is injected to irritate the cysts and encourage them to shrink - and had 100ml drained from the cyst at two-weeks-old.

He had another 1ml drained at four-months old and will likely need more sclerotherapy as he gets older.

Chelsea, a stay-at-home-mom, from Pleasant Grove, Utah, US, said: "My husband first noticed his arm. He said his whole arm looked different.

"I wasn't expecting it. It was very overwhelming.

"I had never heard of it.

"I'm sure he'll get comments like 'why does your arm look funky?'

"I hope he'll grow up knowing he's loved and it's what makes him special and unique."

Chelsea and Ryan, a mental health therapist, said nothing had shown up on the ultrasounds so it was a surprise when Easton was born on July 10, 2024 looking different to what they expected.

Doctors ran an MRI on Easton but didn't think it was anything to worry about.

Chelsea said: "They said it was just a large lump and needs to be surgically removed.

"At two weeks old it changed and looked infected.

"My baby was really sick - it was really overwhelming.

"It was causing him pain when it got infected and inflamed."

The parents took him to the emergency room before being told by a doctor that it was lymphatic malformation.

Easton has now undergone sclerotherapy twice in his short life to help shrink the cyst.

Mom Chelsea also spotted a spot on his left leg in January 2025.

She said: "I thought it was eczema and was putting lotion on it.

"It turned out to be a lymphatic vesicle. It doesn't cause problems unless it breaks.

"It's like a rough spot."

Little Easton is now happy and health but may need more treatment as he gets older as the cysts can grow back.

Chelsea said: "I don't know what the future looks like.

"I don't know how it will affect his crawling or walking.

"I try not to focus on that."

Chelsea said she hasn't had any comments on Easton's arm but is worried about bullying as he gets older.

She said: "I'm concerned a little bit about that.

"It's hard as people don't know about it."

Chelsea said her elder daughter, Ivy, two, has been "amazing" with Easton.

She said: "She's a good big sister.

"She thinks he has an 'ouchy.'"