Treatment of Lymphatic Malformations with OK-432: the First Experience of a Single Hospital

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of OK-432 immunotherapy in the treatment of lymphatic malformation (LM) in children and to determine its complications and contraindications. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with LM of head and neck were enrolled. Twenty-three (82.2%) patients were treated with OK-432 immunotherapy, and surgery was performed in 5 (17.8%). LMs were classified as macrocystic, microcystic, or combined, and according to de Serres clinical stages. OK-432 immunotherapy consisted of a puncture, aspiration and intralesional injection of OK-432. Results: Three patients with contraindication to OK-432 were successfully treated surgically. In patients with parotid involvement recurrence of LM and facial nerve branch, paresis occurred. After OK-432 treatment and a single session of 1 KE of OK-432, favorable results were obtained in patients with stage I and macrocystic lesions. In patients with stage III, the result was excellent or good in 7 (70%) and fair in 3 (30%). We didn’t receive satisfactory results in groups IV and V (good – 1, fair – 4, poor – 1). Conclusion: OK-432 immunotherapy is safe, effective, and simple to use. The result of treatment depends on cystic size, extent of lesions, and previous interventions, and was most successful in unilateral macrocystic LM.