Long-term follow-up of nineteen cystic lymphangiomas treated with fibrin sealant.

BACKGROUND

Surgical exeresis is regarded as the first choice treatment for cystic lymphangioma. Surgery may be extremely complex, giving rise to complications. Several therapeutic methods have been described to avoid the complications derived from the conventional surgical approach. The idea of treating lymphangioma by means of suction and injection of fibrin sealant (Tissucol), is an alternative to surgery.

METHODS

The authors present 19 cases of cystic lymphangioma, treated with fibrin sealant injected into the lesion, during the 1991 to 1997 period. Two of the patients had been treated surgically and experienced recurrence of the tumor previous to treatment. In the other 17 cases, puncture was the only therapy applied. One patient required 3 punctures, another 6 patients required 2 punctures, and only 1 of them, after 2 unsuccessful punctures, was treated with surgical resection. The rest of the 10 cases subsided after the first puncture. Follow-up ranged between 3 and 72 months, with a mean of 40 months.

RESULTS

The ultrasonographic (US) follow-up showed a complete remission in 17 patients treated with puncture. One patient remained with a small intermittent tumor, the appearance of which is related to catarrhal processes, and another patient rejected further puncture after the second one. No complications appeared.

CONCLUSION

These results support the fact that the puncture, aspiration, followed by injection of Tissucol, is a choice in the surgical treatment of cystic lymphangioma.