[Cystic hygroma : report of 25 cases].
BACKGROUND
The cystic hygroma is a benign lymphatic malformation, a rare but potentially serious in its character and its evolutionary trend dissecans. The head and neck region constitutes the favorite seat (75%). If the diagnosis is usually easy, the therapeutic management remains controversial.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze clinical and paraclinical characteristics of cystic hygroma and to discuss the various therapeutic methods.


METHODS
We report a retrospective study about 25 cases of head and neck cystic hygroma collected during a period of 11 years (1998- 2008) in the ENT department of the hospital The Rabta Tunis.


RESULTS
The average age of our patients was 18 years and 5 months. All patients consulted for a neck mass. It was localized in the submandibular region in 7 cases, 3 cases in parotid region, jugulocarotid artery in 3 cases and affecting the posterior triangle in 12 cases. Cervical ultrasound was performed in 22 cases (88%) evoking the diagnosis of cystic hygroma in 16 cases (72%). CT was performed in 10 cases finding hypodense aspect in 8 cases. MRI was carried out in 9 cases. It showed the aspect hyperintense T2, hypointense T1 in 7 cases. Surgical excision was performed in 22 cases and sclerotherapy in 3 patients. During the evolution, a recurrence was observed for each treatment modality.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery is treatment of choice of cystic hygroma. Sclerotherapy may be indicated as an alternative to surgery in localized and diffuse macrocystic forms.
Hopital Charles Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
Rim
R
Zainine
Chafik
C
El Aoud
Moncef
M
Sellami
Najeh
N
Beltaief
Semia
S
Sahtout
Ghazi
G
Besbes
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D055815:Young Adult