Percutaneous sclerotherapy of lymphangiomas with acetic acid.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous image-guided sclerotherapy of lymphangiomas with use of acetic acid.


METHODS
Twelve patients with lymphangiomas were treated with acetic acid as the sclerosant. There were eight male patients and four female patients, ranging in age from 1 to 29 years (mean, 11 years). The lymphangiomas were located at the neck (n = 5), upper extremity (n = 3), axilla (n = 1), cervicomediastinum (n = 1), anterior chest wall (n = 1), and retroperitoneum (n = 1). Two patients had recurrent lymphangiomas after surgery and two patients had undergone failed sclerotherapy with another sclerosant. The acetic acid used as the sclerosant was 40%-50% in concentration, and the amounts used ranged from 2 mL to 70 mL (mean, 11.3 mL), which was equivalent to 4.6%-50% (mean, 30.6%) of the aspirated lymphatics. All procedures were performed under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance. The sclerosant was removed after sclerotherapy. All patients except one underwent one treatment session.


RESULTS
Complete resolution of the lymphangioma was achieved in eight patients (66.7%), good resolution (>50% reduction) was achieved in three (25.0%), and poor resolution (<50% reduction) was seen in one (8.3%). Complications encountered included pneumonitis adjacent to the lymphangioma (n = 1), pain (n = 2), hematuria (n = 1), and tingling sensation in the forearm (n = 1).


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous sclerotherapy of the lymphangiomas with use of acetic acid is an effective method without serious complications.
Won
Je Hwan
JH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Ajou University Hospital, College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. wonkwak@ajou.ac.kr
Kim
Byung Moon
BM
Kim
Chul-Ho
CH
Park
Sang Woo
SW
Kim
Man Deuk
MD
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019342:Acetic Acid