Kasabach-Merritt syndrome: case reports of successful treatment with partial tumor resection and vincristine chemotherapy.

Abstract

Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is a life-threatening and localized consumption coagulopathy, characterized with profound thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic anemia. The huge tumor is the major cause of rapid platelet destruction, so we supposed the reduction of tumor size could reduce the platelet destruction and improve the clinical condition. In our cases, the vascular tumor occupied one of the extremities, or the head or face. However, removal of the whole tumor would have resulted in the amputation of this extremity or the destruction of the face, and partial tumor removal was suitable. The wound could be repaired with skin graft. Vincristine chemotherapy after the operation was necessary to prevent the enlargement of the remaining tumor. Two cases which were ineffectively treated by other means were treated in this way.