eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Vessels

Lymphangioma: Treatment & Medication

Author: Geover Fernandez, MD, FAAD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School
Coauthor(s): Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Pathology, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 19, 2007

Treatment

Medical Care

No proven medical care for lymphangiomas exists. This condition is not responsive to radiation therapy or steroids. Antibiotics are given for secondary cellulitis.

Surgical Care

The preferred treatment for lymphangiomas is complete surgical excision.

  • Local recurrences are common in lymphangiomas.
  • On the basis of the Whimster hypothesis, the large subcutaneous cisterns should be removed to prevent the lesion from resurfacing.
  • Adequate excision of lymphangiomas can be difficult and, at times, unfeasible. This problem is the main reason for the high recurrence rate.
  • Tumors that are confined to the superficial dermis are more amenable to surgical excision, which is associated with a high rate of success.
  • The use of other treatment modalities has been advocated; these include cryotherapy, sclerotherapy, and cautery.
  • Vaporization with a carbon dioxide laser has been tried with good results.
  • A new therapeutic option for lymphangioma circumscriptum is 23.4% hypertonic saline sclerotherapy.3
  • The use of intralesional OK432 (Picibanil) is a new and effective treatment for macrocystic lesions, but the response of microcystic or cavernous lesions to OK-432 has been disappointing and surgery remains the most effective treatment for these microcystic and cavernous lesions.

More on Lymphangioma

Overview: Lymphangioma
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Lymphangioma
Treatment & Medication: Lymphangioma
Follow-up: Lymphangioma
Multimedia: Lymphangioma
References
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References

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  2. Horn LC, Kuhndel K, Pawlowitsch T, Leo C, Einenkel J. Acquired lymphangioma circumscriptum of the vulva mimicking genital warts. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. Nov 1 2005;123(1):118-20. [Medline].

  3. Bikowski JB, Dumont AM. Lymphangioma circumscriptum: treatment with hypertonic saline sclerotherapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. Sep 2005;53(3):442-4. [Medline].

  4. Ahn SJ, Chang SE, Choi JH, Moon KC, Koh JK, Kim DY. A case of unresectable lymphangioma circumscriptum of the vulva successfully treated with OK-432 in childhood. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 2006;55(5 Suppl):S106-7. [Medline].

  5. Allen-Davis JT, Russ P, Karrer FM, Shroyer K, Ruyle S, Odom LF. Cavernous lymphangioma presenting as a vaginal discharge in a six-year-old female: a case report. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. Feb 1996;9(1):31-4. [Medline].

  6. Blum EJ. Lymphangioma circumscriptum. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. Sep 1988;14(9):1033. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

cutaneous lymphangioma, lymphangioma circumscriptum, cavernous lymphangioma, cystic hygroma, abnormal lymph vessel, lymph vessel

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Geover Fernandez, MD, FAAD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School
Geover Fernandez, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Society for MOHS Surgery
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Pathology, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Carrie L Kovarik, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology and Dermatopathology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Carrie L Kovarik, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Director, Division of Dermatology, Scott and White Clinic; Director Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey J Miller, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Penn State University, Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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