Outcome of Intralesional Bleomycin on Cystic Lymphangioma of Major Salivary Glands

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cystic Lymphangioma (CL) commonly involves head and neck region and axilla. Involvement of other sites like salivary glands is very rare. This study was done to assess the role of bleomycin sclerotherapy in salivary gland CL with relevant review of literature. Aim: To assess the outcome of intralesional bleomycin as sclerotherapy in CL of major salivary glands. Materials and Methods: This was an retrospective observational study, done in Department of Paediatric surgery and Plastic surgery from July 2013 to July 2017. All diagnosed cases of pure CL involving major salivary glands were included, where as those with venous or arterial component were excluded from the study. Patients having previous surgery or other treatment modalities were also excluded. Primary mode of treatment of CL at present center was sclerotherapy using aqueous bleomycin. As per our protocol sclerotheray was done under sedation for paediatric patients using dopler ultrasound. Relevant demographic and clinical data of all seven patients was collected in structured proforma and results were analysed. Results: Out of seven cases, four patient’s lesion responded well in a single session, two patients reported unfavourable response even after second session hence, were managed surgically and one patient responded partially after first session and managed surgically later on. Conclusion: Cystic lymphangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesion of parotid and submandibular gland though its involvement is rare. Bleomycin sclerotherapy can be used as a safe and low cost treatment modality for the management of this rare entity.

Keywords

• axilla
• saliva
• sclerotherapy
• parotid