Experience with electrothrombosis in the treatment of angiomas

We report unsatisfactory results of electrothrombosis for the treatment of venous angiomas. After we reviewed a report of successful use of electrothrombosis for treating cirsoid angiomas of the face and scalp and varices of the leg, a clinical trial was begun with 6 patients in whom previous conventional surgery was relatively unsuccessful and in whom further surgery had not been recommended owing to the high risk or probability of unsatisfactory results. Two patients had objective clinical improvement, resulting in no further treatment in 1 patient and allowing secondary surgical correction in the other. Four patients had no significant improvement. We now recommend and will continue further laboratory research with electrothrombosis for the treatment of angiomas before treating additional clinical cases.