Risk factors for functional state deterioration in patients with lymphatic malformation occuring in the neck region

Abstract

Introduction. The improvement and prediction of functional status in patients with lymphatic malformations of the head and neck, particularly in neck masses, remains a pressing socio-economic concern. As of the publication of this article, no comprehensive scientific studies have explored the cause-and-effect relationships that impact the functional status of this specific patient demographic.Aim. To elucidate the cause-and-effect relationships impacting the functional status of patients with cervical lymphatic malformations and to develop a predictive model for their functional decline.Materials and methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted, involving a detailed analysis of the functional status of 115 paediatric and adolescent patients aged 1 month to 17 years, treated for cervical lymphatic malformations at the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, from May 2012 to December 2022. The analysis utilised the Cologne Disease Score (CDS), varying according to the histological type of the lymphatic malformations (microcystic, macrocystic, or mixed) and the staging of the de Serres classification.Results and discussion. The study involved 115 patients with a median age of 2.1 years (ranging from 0.4 to 5.5 years). It was determined that the ‘Mixed lymphatic malformations type,’ ‘Stage V of the de Serres classification,’ and ‘Need for surgical treatment’ were clinically and statistically significant prognostic factors for the deterioration of functional status in these patients, reducing the CDS scores by 0.976 to 4.514 points, respectively. These findings supported the development of a predictive model for worsening functional status in this group.Conclusion. The predictive model formulated during this research accounts for the histological type, location, and treatment modality, and is recommended for clinical application within specialised medical institutions.