Percutaneous treatment of facial venous malformations: a matched comparison of alcohol and bleomycin sclerotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Venous malformations (VMs) are common vascular anomalies; 40% are found in the head and neck. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is 1 treatment of choice.


METHODS
In all, 17 patients with facial VMs were treated by percutaneous sclerotherapy using alcohol and individually matched to lesions treated with bleomycin. Treatment details and outcomes were compared. The average numbers of sessions were 1.7 for alcohol and 3.4 for bleomycin. Average dose administered was 8.1 cm³ alcohol and 9.1 units bleomycin.


RESULTS
Of those treated with alcohol, 2 developed adverse effects and 7 developed complications. None treated with bleomycin developed adverse effects or complications. All patients treated with alcohol improved clinically. In all, 15 patients treated with bleomycin improved after treatment and 2 were unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol has a slightly higher success rate and requires fewer treatment sessions. Bleomycin has a lower complication rate and less postprocedural swelling. Bleomycin treatment may be better tolerated and is thus preferred over alcohol sclerotherapy.
Spence
Jessica
J
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Krings
Timo
T
TerBrugge
Karel G
KG
Agid
Ronit
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*; D055815:Young Adult
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D001761:Bleomycin; D000431:Ethanol