Treatment of childhood lymphangiomas with interferon-alpha.

PURPOSE

Nonsurgical treatment of lymphangiomas has shown limited efficacy and often carries unacceptable toxicities, demonstrating the need for a more effective, less toxic therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We describe two patients with lymphangiomatosis treated for 12 to 40 months with recombinant interferon-alpha.

RESULTS

Both patients demonstrated stabilization or marked improvement of disease, based on clinical and radiologic findings, with minimal toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The favorable responses to interferon-alpha therapy in these two cases suggest that this is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for lymphangiomas in children.