Giant Lymphangioma of the Tongue

Abstract

This report presents the treatment of an extensive lymphatic malformation of the tongue. Sclerosing agents are now widely used as the first-line treatment of lymphatic malformation. However, treatment of lymphatic malformation involving the face and the vital structures such as the airway remains to be challenging. A 4-year-old boy underwent a total of 15 OK-432 injection sclerotherapy treatments over a 2-year period, having slow progress until sudden enlargement of the tongue was noted shortly after the last injection. Partial excision of the lesion was performed. This case demonstrates the risk in treating large microcystic lymphatic malformation of the tongue with sclerotherapy and provides an insight in the management protocol.