Foam Sclerotherapy in the Treatment of Hemangiomas and Venous Malformations

Abstract

BACKGROUND Sclerotherapy has achieved great success in treating most venous malformation (VM) lesions. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of foam sclerotherapy on infantile hemangioma and pyogenic granuloma (PG). In addition, we analyzed the data and outcomes of foam sclerotherapy for the VM. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-nine patients with hemangiomas and 83 patients with VMs were treated, and clinical outcomes, resolution, and complication rates were compared. Sclerotherapy data from the VM group were also analyzed. RESULTS The average age of the patients and the distribution and tissue involvement of lesions among the 3 groups were significantly different (p < .001). The average amount of sclerosing foam administered per session in VMs was significantly higher than that in the other 2 groups (p < .0001) (whereas that in the PG group was lower than that in the infantile hemangioma group [p < .0001]). However, the overall therapeutic efficacy and side effects in the 3 groups were not significantly different. For VMs, the frequency of ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy and use of 3% polidocanol increased from superficial to deep lesions, whereas the use of 1% POL decreased (p < .0001). CONCLUSION Infantile hemangioma and PG treatments presented good results and minor adverse reactions comparable with those of VMs.