[Severe iatrogenic airway obstruction due to lingual lymphangioma].

Abstract

Lymphangioma of the tongue is a rare and benign tumour involving congenital and cystic abnormalities derived from lymphatic vessels. Treatment modalities include surgery and a large number of different intralesional injections of sclerosing agents. Presently, OK-432 (Picibanil(®)) is the preferred sclerosant and when administered intralesionally will result in inflammation, sclerosis, and cicatricial contraction of the lesion. We report a case of microcystic lymphangioma of the tongue in a 5-year-old boy treated with an intralesional injection of OK-432. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient suffered severe diffuse swelling, progressive upper airway obstruction with inspiratory stridor, and respiratory distress requiring emergency fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation. Although OK-432 injections are found to be safe and effective as a first line of treatment for lymphangiomas, local swelling with potentially life-threatening airway compromise should be anticipated, especially when treating lesions near the upper airway.

• Authors: A Segado Arenas, J-C Flores González, F Rubio Quiñones, S Quintero Otero, A Hernández González, S Pantoja Rosso
• Journal: Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie (Arch Pediatr) Vol. 18 Issue 9 Pg. 983-6 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1769-664X [Electronic] France
• Vernacular Title: Obstruction iatrogène sévère de la voie aérienne par un lymphangiome lingual.
• PMID: 21820291 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Sclerosing Solutions
• Picibanil

Topics

• Airway Obstruction (etiology, surgery, therapy)
• Child, Preschool
• Humans
• Injections, Intralesional
• Intubation, Intratracheal
• Lymphangioma, Cystic (complications, drug therapy)
• Male
• Picibanil (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Sclerosing Solutions (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Tongue Neoplasms (complications, drug therapy)
• Tracheostomy
• Treatment Outcome