Sclerosing treatment of lymphangiomas with OK-432.

Abstract

Over a period of seven years, 15 patients (aged from birth to 15 years; median 22 months) with lymphangioma were treated with OK-432; they received a mean of three injections each. Ten received OK-432 as first line treatment; five were treated after surgery (three had a residual lymphangioma after incomplete removal and two had a late recurrence). OK-432 proved to be effective for primitive as well as for residual and recurrent lymphangioma. Seven cases were macrocystic; complete regression was obtained in all. Five cases were microcystic: two had more than 50% regression, and three less than 50%. Three cases were mixed, with both large and microscopic cysts: one had more than 50% regression, and two less than 50%. These last two cases underwent surgery after the sclerosing treatment. The results obtained were excellent in 100% of macrocystic cases; a shrinkage in size was obtained in all microcystic cases. OK-432 is therefore proposed as a first line option for treatment of lymphangiomas.