Lymphographic-Like Technique for the Treatment of Microcystic Lymphatic Malformation Components of <3 mm

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The treatment of microcystic lymphatic malformations remains challenging. Our aim was to describe the lymphographic-like technique, a new technique of slow bleomycin infusion for the treatment of microcyst components of 3 mm, performed at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected lymphatic malformation data base was performed. Patients with at least 1 microcystic lymphatic malformation component demonstrated on MR imaging treated by lymphographic-like technique bleomycin infusion were included in the study. Patient interviews and MR imaging were performed to assess subjective and objective (microcystic lymphatic malformation size decrease of 30%) clinical improvement, respectively. Patients were reviewed 3 months after each sclerotherapy session. Lymphographic-like technique safety and efficacy were assessed. RESULTS: Between January 2012 and July 2016, sixteen patients (5 males, 11 females; mean age, 15 years; range, 1– 47 years) underwent the bleomycin lymphographic-like technique for microcystic lymphatic malformations. Sixty sclerotherapy sessions were performed, with a mean of 4 sessions per patient (range, 1– 8 sessions) and a mean follow-up of 26 months (range, 5–58 months). We observed no major and 3 minor complications: 1 eyelid infection, 1 case of severe postprocedural nausea and vomiting, and 1 case of skin discoloration. One patient was lost to follow-up. Overall MR imaging objective improvement was observed in 5/16 (31%) patients; overall improvement of clinical symptoms was obtained in 93% of treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The bleomycin lymphographic-like technique for microcystic lymphatic malformations is safe and feasible with objective improvement in about one-third of patients. MR signal intensity changes after the lymphographic-like technique are associated with subjective improvement of the patient’s symptoms.