title: Giant pediatric cervicofacial lymphatic malformations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are benign lesions. Most of them are found in head and neck regions as asymptomatic mass, but giant lymphangiomas may affect breathing or swallowing and constitute a major therapeutic challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of giant head and neck LMs with impairment of respiration or swallow for the past 11 years was performed in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and ENT of the Avicenne Medical University Center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients with large and extensive LMs of the head and neck were identified. There were 3 males and 4 females with a mean age of 6 years. The predominant reason for referral was airway compromise necessitating tracheostomy (57%) and dysphagia (43%). Three patients had macrocystic lesions; others were considered mixed or microcystic. All the patients underwent surgical excision as a primary treatment modality. Complete surgical resection was realized in 4 patients, and subtotal resection in 3 patients. Of 7 patients, 4 patients had complications including nerve damage and recurrence of the disease. The majority of the patients underwent only a single surgical procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervicofacial LMs in children should be managed in multidisciplinary setting. Surgery remains the first treatment for managing giant, life-threatening lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and ENT, Avicenne University Medical Center, Rabat, Morocco. benazzou.s@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benazzou
authors.forename: Malik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boulaadas
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Essakalli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000601:surgery; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000601:surgery; D044148:Lymphatic Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions