MANAGEMENT OF CERVICOFACIAL CYSTIC LYMPHANGIOMA INCHILDREN

Cystic lymphangioma is a rare, benign, tumor of the lymphatic vessels. It has varying locations, with the commonest being the cervicofacialregion. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with cervicofacial cystic lymphangioma.Materials and Methods:This was a retrospective study of 24 patients who underwent surgery for head and neck lymphangioma between 2013 and 2023 in XX hospital. The studied variables included age, sex, symptoms, imaging findings,results, and complications.Results: Most of the patients were male (58.3%). The median patient age was 4.5 (2.0–6.7) years. Fifty percent (n=12) of patients had visible lesions at birth, and 16 (66.7%) had left-sided lesions. The shoulder (n=3; 12.5%), clavicle (n=2; 8.3%), and mandible (n=2; 8.3%) were the main sites of extension. Imaging examination was performed in nine (37.5%). Eighteen (87.5%) patients underwent total excision of the tumor. Furthermore, six (25.0%) patients had received preoperative sclerotherapy.Postoperative complications were observed in 25.0% of the patients, with lymphedema (n=6) being the commonest. Esthetic sequelae were thecommonest sequelae in 37.5% (n=9) of patients. No death was registered.Conclusion: Cystic cervicofacial lymphangioma is a complex pathology requiring multidisciplinary management. Sclerotherapy leads to good outcomes in compressive forms.