Clinical characteristics, treatment, and evolution in 14 cases of pediatric orofacial lymphangioma.

PURPOSE: To present the largest series of orofacial lymphangioma in children published to date, analyzing the clinical characteristics and evolution of, and the treatment used for, these lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data from patients diagnosed with orofacial lymphangioma, who were treated from 1998 to 2008 at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Children's Hospital La Fe of Valencia (age 0 to 14 years), were reviewed. All patients with a clinical, radiographic, or, in surgical cases, histopathologic, diagnosis of orofacial lymphangioma were included.

RESULTS: A total of 14 patients (8 boys and 6 girls; mean age 4.6 years) were included in the present study. Of the 14 cases, 9 had been diagnosed before the patients were 2 years old and 2 of which were congenital; 8 cases were located on the dorsum of the tongue. The lesion diameter was 1 to 2 cm in 9 patients, with 1 less than 1 cm, and was larger than 2 cm in 5. For treatment, 4 lymphangiomas were monitored periodically and resolved spontaneously, 1 was treated with sclerotherapy, and 9 with surgical extirpation. After surgery, 2 patients developed a recurrence within 13 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Most of the lymphangiomas diagnosed in children occurred before 2 years of age, were on the dorsum of the tongue, and had a mean size of 1 to 2 cm. Of those treated with surgical extirpation, 2 recurred.