Treatment of cystic hygroma in children with special reference to OK-432 therapy.

During a five-year period, 18 patients with cystic hygroma were treated as follows: 8 patients were treated surgically, 3 patients were treated by sclerosing therapy with Bleomycin (BLM) and 9 patients including 2 secondary to incomplete surgical therapy were treated by sclerosing therapy with OK-432 (Picibanil; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo). OK-432 therapy for cystic hygroma showed excellent results; cure was noted in 8 patients, and marked regression with the expectation of subsequent cure was noted in the other patient. Complete excision of the cystic hygromas was possible in 4 patients and resulted in cure; but only partial excisions could be performed in the other 4 patients because of the surrounding tissue and the results were unfavorable. BLM therapy gave insufficient results and was not considered a favorable treatment.