Sclerotherapy treatment of orbital lymphatic malformations: a large single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous sclerotherapy is an alternative to surgery for the treatment of orbital lymphatic malformations (LMs). We present a large series of patients undergoing sclerotherapy for macrocystic LMs with detailed visual acuity (VA) outcome data. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively in all patients with macrocystic orbital LMs undergoing sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy was performed under general anaesthesia, instilling sodium tetradecyl sulfate under imaging control. Procedures were repeated at 2-week to 6-week intervals, depending on clinical response. Patients underwent ophthalmological assessment, ultrasound and/or MRI before and after treatment. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: change in maximal radiological diameter of the LM. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURE: change in VA after treatment. RESULTS: 29 patients underwent 71 procedures (1-8 procedures per patient) over 6.7 years. Mean age=7.31 years. 11 patients (37.9%) had undergone previous treatment, including excision biopsy, drainage and decompression. All patients presented with proptosis and/or pseudoptosis. 23 patients (79.3%) had decreased VA at presentation. Average follow-up was 21.8 months (range 3-75 months). All patients achieved a reduction in maximal lesion diameter of ≥50%, with complete radiological resolution in 51.7% (n=15). VA improved in 18/23 patients (78.2%). Average logMAR before treatment=0.43 (SD ±0.47); average after treatment=0.25 (SD ±0.32); p<0.01. There was one complication (1.4%): one patient required a lateral canthotomy for an intralesional haematoma 2 h after sclerotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Sclerotherapy is a safe and highly effective treatment for orbital LMs with excellent VA outcomes. It should be considered as the first-line treatment for this condition.