Lymphatic malformation: Predictive factors for recurrence

OBJECTIVE: Although lymphatic malformations are often found to be well circ umscribed when surgery is undertaken in early childhood, complete surgical excision can be difficult when the lesion is infiltrative. This study retro spectively evaluates these patients in an attempt to identity prognostic fa ctors that may predict recurrence. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective chart review was conducted coveri ng the years 1991 to 1998. Seventeen patients were identified having underg one 32 surgical resections of tumors described as lymphatic malformations. Data abstracted from the charts included the site of the lesion, surgical a nd histologic assessment of encapsulation, and status at follow-up examinat ion. RESULTS: Six of 17 patients developed a recurrence after surgery. Correlati on between recurrence and histologic or operative impressions of encapsulat ion was significant by chi (2) analysis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the findings of this case series, lymphatic mal formations that are found to be nonencapsulated and infiltrative by intraop erative or histologic assessment are more likely to recur.