[Treatment of lymphangiomas arising around cervico-facial region: surgery, bleomycin therapy and OK-432 therapy].

To determine a favorable treatment for lymphangiomas arising around cervico-facial region, a 10-year (1979, 1-1988, 9) experience with 58 these lesions were reviewed. Therapeutic records were divided into 3 groups according to the treatment: surgical Excision (n = 16), intralesional Bleomycin (BLM) therapy (n = 11), and intralesional OK-432 Picibanil therapy (n = 31). Complete disappearance of the lesions without serious complications was noted in 3 of 16 patients treated by surgery, in 3 of 11 patients treated by BLM therapy, and in 21 of 31 patients treated by OK-432 therapy. Serious complications such as facial nerve palsy (3), ugly scars due to repeated excision (5) and short of tongue (1) were noted in surgically treated group. In BLM and OK-432 therapy groups, only a fever of 2 to 3 days' duration and local inflammatory reaction of 3 to 5 days were noted. The results suggest that OK-432 therapy is effective for these lesions.