Excellent Result With the Use of Single-Dose OK-432 in Cervical Macrocystic Lymphangioma

Sclerotherapy vs. surgical excision for lymphatic malformations of the head and neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are abnormal lymphatic vessels with cystic characteristics, categorized as macrocystic, microcystic, or a combination of both. They represent the second most common vascular malformations, and their management involves multidisciplinary approaches based on clinical assessments and imaging studies. LMs manifest as a challenge to medical professionals in the head and neck, posing functional and aesthetic concerns. Our systematic review aims to compare the efficacy of sclerotherapy and surgery for LMs, identifying optimal treatment modalities for each scenario.

METHODS

We searched four electronic databases for related studies. Data were extracted from the included studies. We calculated the pooled rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The I2 test was used to detect heterogeneity. The inclusion of the studies required the following prerequisites: 1- Studies focusing on any lymphatic malformations in the head and neck, whether microcystic, macrocystic, or a mix of both; 2- Studies performed on more than ten patients; 3- All interventions used as surgery, sclerotherapy, or both.

RESULTS

We included 58 studies in our systematic review, of which 45 were eligible for the meta-analysis. For macrocystic LMs, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) mixed with ethanol and excision achieved the highest complete response rates at (92.9%) and (92.5%), respectively. Surgical excision showed the lowest poor response rate. Polidocanol microfoam had the highest poor response rate (11.1%). In microcystic LMs, combining sclerotherapy with excision showed the highest complete response rate (70.3%) and the lowest poor response rate (1.3%). Picibanil had the lowest complete response rate (9.1%) and the highest rate of poor response (61.4%). In mixed LMs, surgical excision had the highest complete response rate (70.3%).

CONCLUSION

Both surgical excision and STS combined with ethanol are highly effective for treating macrocystic LMs, achieving similar complete response rates. The combination of sclerotherapy and surgical excision demonstrated the best outcomes in microcystic LMs. Surgical excision demonstrates superior efficacy over sclerotherapy for mixed LMs. These findings suggest that excision is generally more effective in achieving complete and excellent responses across all LM subtypes. Further high-quality studies are necessary to standardize and optimize treatment protocols.

Cervicofacial Lymphangioma: Is it Time to Put Down the Scalpel?

To assess the efficacy of intralesional injection of bleomycin for treatment of pediatric lymphangiomas in head and neck region in Iranian population. This prospective study was conducted from February 2017 to March 2019. All consecutive patients presented to pediatric otolaryngology clinic in Children Medical Center Hospital in Tehran with macrocystic lymphangiomas of head neck were enrolled in this study. Informed consent was taken from parents. Bleomycin was diluted to a concentration of 1 mg/ml by normal saline and a dose of 0.5 mg/kg was injected into the lymphangioma. Ultrasonography was performed before and after each injection at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Age, gender, number of injections, size of lymphangioma and complications including fever, discoloration and respiratory problems were recorded. A total of 20 patients were assessed. Mean age at first injection was 31.9 months. Average reduction in size was 84%. Complete disappearance of mass was observed in 65% (13/20) of patients. Twenty-five percent (5/20) of patients had more than 50% reduction in size. Ten percent (2/20) had unsatisfactory results. Three patients developed transient erythema or swelling of injection site, but none of the patients had any respiratory problem. Intralesional injection of bleomycin is an effective modality to use as a first-line treatment of macrocystic head and neck lymphangiomas in Iranian pediatric population.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis, classification, and treatment of cervical lymphatic malformation in paediatric patients: a retrospective study

Background

To explore the imaging features, key diagnostic points, classification, treatment, and prognosis of cervical lymphatic malformation.

Methods

Overall, 320 patients diagnosed with cervical lymphatic malformation were retrospectively analysed in our hospital between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017. Imaging modalities included colour Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Cervical lymphatic malformations were classified by cyst diameter. Treatments included interventional therapy, surgery, and expectant treatment.

Results

Cervical lymphatic malformation was identified in 320 of 1192 patients with lymphatic malformation. Four were excluded due to misdiagnosis by ultrasonography. Cervical lymphatic malformation was classified as mixed, macrocystic, and microcystic in 184 (57.5%), 117 (36.56%), and 19 (5.94%) patients, respectively. Sixty-four (20%), ten (3.12%), seven (2.19%), and three (0.94%) patients experienced intracystic haemorrhage, infection, concurrent intracystic haemorrhage and infection, and calcification, respectively. Among 260 (81.25%) patients who underwent interventional sclerotherapy, 163 (50.94%) received it once and 96 (30%) received it two or more times. Twenty-eight (8.75%), five (1.56%), and 27 (8.44%) patients underwent surgical resection, interventional sclerotherapy plus surgery, and expectant management, respectively.

Conclusions

Ultrasonography is useful for diagnosing definite cervical lymphatic malformation. Interventional therapy is the first choice for children with confirmed cervical lymphatic malformation.

Macrocystic Lymphangioma in Children Treated by Sclerotherapy With Bleomycin

Although surgical operation is a commonly preferred method in lymphangiomas (LAs), there is a risk of vascular or nerve injury especially in macrocystic LA. Therefore, sclerotherapy would be more appropriate as the first treatment. The authors wanted to share the excellent results of intralesional bleomycin treatment in 3 patients with cervical macrocystic LA.

A single-center experience in the management of head and neck lymphangiomas

INTRODUCTION

Lymphangiomas are relatively uncommon head and neck region lymphatic malformations. Although surgery can be still considered the mainstay of treatment, sclerotherapy by OK-432 is becoming a widespread treatment option. The aim of this article is to present and discuss the management and outcomes of a series of cases of lymphangiomas.

METHODS

All patients with lymphangiomas who were treated from 2010 to 2018 were reviewed. The following data were recorded: age, gender, subtype, staging, type of treatment, outcome, and recurrence.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (9 females, 6 males) were included with 2 microcystic and 13 macrocystic lymphangiomas. Six patients underwent surgery with excision (5 with a complete success, one with a fair success), whereas the remaining 9 subjects underwent sclerotherapy by OK-432 (6 with a complete success, 3 with a fair success). No postoperative complications were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

All modes of treatment are important in properly selected patients affected by lymphangiomas. OK-432 therapy is a safe and effective option in the treatment of head and neck lymphangiomas.

A Rare Cause of Dyspnea: Cervicothoracic Cystic Lymphangioma

I read with great interest the article reported by Efe et al in Journal of Cranofacial Surgery (2016;27:1802-1803), presenting the excellent result obtained by the use of sclerotherapy with single-dose OK-432 in a growing cervical lymphangioma. Cervicothoracic lymphangioma is a rare congenital anomaly that is mostly asymptomatic. We would like to share our experience of a rare cause of dyspnea by lymphangioma. In our case, the patient presented with dyspnea and paroxysmal cough caused by cervicothoracic lymphangioma and sclerotherapy alleviated tracheal compression and relieved the dyspneic symptoms.