OK-432 (Picibanil) therapy for lymphangiomas in children

Lymphangiomas are benign, soft tumors that most often affect the head and neck area, usually causing marked cosmetic and functional problems. Treatment options include surgery and a large number of different sclerotherapy agents. Surgical treatment is challenging because of the need for complete excision. The risk of damage to surrounding structures or poor cosmetic results is high. Various sclerotherapy agents have been shown to have minimal effects on lymphangiomas. Their use has been associated with severe systemic, local and cosmetic side effects. OK-432 (Picibanil) is a new and promising form of sclerotherapy. An intracystic injection of OK-432 produces a local inflammatory reaction, which leads to resolution of the lesion. We have treated 11 pediatric lymphangioma patients with OK-432 with excellent results: complete regression in six, marked regression in four and no response in one case. Local swelling should be anticipated, especially when treating lesions near the upper airway. We found OK-432 injections to be safe and effective as a first line of treatment for lymphangiomas.