title: Is intralesional injection of OK-432 effective in the treatment of lymphangioma in children?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intralesional injection of OK-432 has been proposed as an effective treatment of lymphangioma. The aim of this study was to review our experience with OK-432 injection of lymphangioma and to identify factors associated with successful outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We made a case note review of 19 children who received OK-432 injection. Median duration of follow-up was 17 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lesions were diagnosed antenatally in 4 children, at birth in 4 children, and between 1 month and 11 years in the remainder. Anatomic locations were head/neck in 14, axilla in 1, and multiple locations in 4. Median number of injections per child was 2 (range, 1 to 5). Disappearance of the lesion was achieved after OK-432 injection in 2 patients (11%) and a marked reduction in 5 (26%); all these lesions were in the head and neck. Lesions larger than 5 cm and those outside the head and neck region did not respond well to OK-432 injection. Fourteen children (74%) required surgical excision after injection. Complications of OK-432 injection included partial tracheal obstruction, fever, local inflammatory response, and abscess formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OK-432 injection was effective in approximately one third of children with lymphangioma. Lesions outside the head and neck and those larger than 5 cm are unlikely to respond to this therapy. Injection of lymphangioma surrounding the airways may be hazardous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Niyi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ade-Ajayi
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brewis
authors.forename: Derek J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Roebuck
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spitz
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierro
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D010844:Picibanil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010844:Picibanil