Abstract
Management of head and neck hemangiomas and venous malformations by bleomycin sclerotherapy
Highlights
Vascular anomalies have the greatest frequency in the head and neck areas and are often encountered in children [1,2]
According to the classification of vascular anomalies issued by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA), two main types of lesions make up this category – vascular tumors and vascular malformations [1,3,4,5]
Sclerotherapy is one of the least invasive treatment methods. It consists of local intralesional injection of a sclerosing agent and it is mainly recommended for hemangiomas, as well as low-flow vascular malformations, of which venous malformations are the most common [1,7]
Summary
Vascular anomalies have the greatest frequency in the head and neck areas and are often encountered in children [1,2]. From the multiple known sclerosing agents, bleomycin has been increasingly used in recent studies for the conservative management of head and neck vascular anomalies [8,9] This manuscript focuses on reviewing the main uses, benefits and complications of bleomycin scle-. Most lesions benefit from this treatment method, the location of the vascular anomaly greatly impacts the indication of sclerotherapy In this aspect, some authors recommend surgical removal in cases in which the well-known post-injection edema that usually accompanies sclerotherapy may cause complications. Surgery may be contraindicated due to the age, the active growing phase unresponsive to medical treatment, increased bleeding risk, delicate anatomical areas that are difficult to access, reconstruct, or are associated with important postoperative functional and aesthetic sequelae [16] In such circumstances, sclerotherapy allows a more conservative approach with minimal complications and good outcomes. Its use is contraindicated in patients with a history of renal or pulmonary disorders [20]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call