Sclerotherapy for treatment of hemangiomas.
BACKGROUND
While sclerotherapy in chronic venous insufficiency and in hemorrhoids is well established, the use of sclerotherapy for hemangiomas of the skin is widely unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical value of sclerotherapy with polidocanol in a larger population.


METHODS
Over a period of 20 years (1975-1995) we performed sclerotherapy of hemangiomas and vascular malformations in a total of 157 patients. Their ages ranged from 3 months to 75 years. Among these were 87 (55.4%) children and adolescents (up to the age of 18). Sclerotherapy with polidocanol was carried out mostly at monstrous or rapidly growing cavernous hemangiomas mainly localized in the face.


RESULTS
One to three injections was usually sufficient to obtain the sclerosis effect; aesthetically, long-term results were convincing. Severe complications were not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Sclerotherapy of hemangiomas is a relatively simple, effective, and inexpensive method that is a valuable and promising treatment.
Winter
H
H
Department of Dermatology, Charité University Medical Center, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Dräger
E
E
Sterry
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols