Treatment of deep-seated palatal vascular malformations by bleomycin sclerotherapy

Vascular malformations of the head and neck are common. The management of these lesions is complex and challenging due to the high complication rate and recurrence following treatment. Palatal vascular malformations (PVMs) are infrequent and present as slow growing lesions in the palate with recurrent bleeding and pain. These lesions are best managed by sclerotherapy due to their posterior location and risk of bleeding if surgery is attempted. Many sclerosants have been used for treating PVMs but the use of intralesional bleomycin for these lesions has not been reported at length. This paper describes the use of intralesional bleomycin injections for the treatment of deep-seated palatal vascular malformations.

Intralesional bleomycin injections were given directly into the lesion with the patients under short general anaesthesia. The total dose of bleomycin ranged between 8 and 15 IU, which depends upon the body weight and was repeated every four weeks till the resolution of lesion was observed.

All the lesions in 12 patients regressed significantly with serial bleomycin injections. Clinically, the involved palatal mucosa became normal and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the significant regression of the lesion in all the cases. No complications were encountered with the use of intralesional bleomycin.

Intralesional bleomycin injections have proved to be an emerging modality in the management of remotely situated palatal vascular malformations. Their rapid regressive effect on the lesion coupled with a high safety margin makes bleomycin sclerotherapy the first choice of treatment for palatal vascular malformations.