title: Clinical Efficacy of Herbal Medicine for Pediatric Lymphatic Malformations: A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system that commonly affect the head and neck region and cause marked cosmetic and functional complications. In this pilot study, we present eight children with LMs treated using an herbal medicine for this indication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2009 and May 2014, eight children (four boys, four girls) with LMs were treated using oral administration of an herbal medicine, Eppikajyutsuto (TJ-28; Tsumura, Tokyo, Japan), as monotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four of the cases were macrocystic and four were mixed micro- and macrocystic. The mean treatment duration was 7.2 ± 2.9 months (range 5-12 mos). The mean LM volume shrinkage on magnetic resonance imaging was 54.5 ± 38.3% (macrocystic 73.6 ± 27.0%; mixed micro- and macrocystic 35.4 ± 41.5%). One of four macrocystic lesions had a marked reduction, two had a moderate reduction, and one had no response. A marked reduction was observed in three of the four mixed micro- and macrocystic cases; the other mixed cystic case had no response. The treatment was well tolerated, without severe adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study demonstrates the beneficial effects of TJ-28. Further evaluations of this therapeutic modality are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.|Department of Innovative Kampo Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Innovative Kampo Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asagiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukahori
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saikusa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Motomu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masui
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.|Division of Medical Safety Management, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D005260:Female; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects