Surgical excision as primary treatment modality for extensive cervicofacial lymphatic malformations in children

There has been much recent focus on sclerotherapy treatment of lymphatic malformations with OK432. Surgical treatment however can have a number of advantages, including complete curative excision. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of surgical excision as the primary (first) treatment for this condition. This group includes a number of children with very extensive disease as well as some with smaller lesions.

Prospectively collected database with additional information from medical records of children with cervicofacial lymphangiomas treated over 10 years at a tertiary paediatric referral centre. For this study only children who underwent surgical excision as the primary treatment modality were included.

Total of 118 children with lymphatic malformations were treated under the care of the senior author over a 10 year period. Of these 53 patients, who underwent surgical excision as the primary treatment modality for cervicofacial lymphatic malformations were included in this study. Forty-one patients who underwent sclerotherapy as the initial treatment were excluded. Also excluded were 6 patients who underwent thoracic surgery and 18 who were treated conservatively. The majority of the patients (41, 77.3%) underwent only a single surgical procedure (36 - surgical excision, 5 - laser excision). At the first follow up after the primary surgery, the result was complete resolution of symptoms in 29 patients, near complete resolution in 13 patients (together 79.3%) and partial response in 11 (19.7%) patients. Twenty-three patients with disease localised only to the neck, all (100%) had a complete or near complete resolution of the disease after the primary surgery. Complete/near complete response was achieved in 98% cases with macrocystic disease, regardless of the location. Minor complications occurred in 11.3% patients. No permanent nerve weaknesses occurred.

Cervicofacial lymphatic malformations in children should be managed in a multidisciplinary setting. Surgery remains a very important treatment modality. The majority of patients (80%) in this study had complete or near complete resolution with one surgical procedure. Isolated neck lesions have the best outcomes (100% resolution in this study). Patients with macrocystic disease, achieved complete or near complete resolution in 97% of cases, regardless of the location. Some children with extensive disease will need multiple treatments. Surgical excision as the primary treatment modality in selected cases is safe and reliable technique and has good aesthetic and functional outcomes in experienced hands.