Treatment of lymphangiomas with OK-432 (Picibanil).
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of OK-432 sclerotherapy in the treatment of lymphangiomas.


METHODS
The treatment was begun for 14 patients with lymphangioma. The age range of the patients at the time of the first injection was from 10 months to 42 years. Eleven of the lesions involved the head and neck region, two the thorax and one was localized in the extremity. Prior to treatment all patients were investigated with either magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound or a combination of these modalities. The injections were performed with ultrasound and/or fluoroscopic guidance. Eight patients received OK-432 as first-line treatment; five were treated after surgery and one after medical therapy. On average, 2.2 intracystic injections were performed per patient. Nine of the lesions were macrocystic and five were mixed lesions.


RESULTS
Eleven patients showed complete or marked response to the OK-432 sclerotherapy, two patients had moderate shrinkage of their lesions and only one patient showed no response to therapy. Macrocystic lesions showed the best response to therapy. Those patients who received OK-432 as first-line treatment showed complete or marked response.


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that treatment of lymphangiomas with OK-432 was safe and effective.
Rautio
Riitta
R
Department of Radiology, Turku University Hospital, Kiinanmyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland. ritta.rautio@tyks.fi
Keski-Nisula
Leo
L
Laranne
Jussi
J
Laasonen
Erkki
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010844:Picibanil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010844:Picibanil