MANAGEMENT OF HEAD AND NECK LYMPHATIC MALFORMATIONS IN CHILDREN

Lymphatic malformations (LM) are complex entities. Their development a nd management remain controversial. A retrospective review of 35 patie nts treated for lymphatic malformation over a 10-year period (1985-199 5) is presented. The demographics of the cases, the method of presenta tion, treatment modalities, and outcomes are presented. The majority o r patients presented at birth, and 83% were treated before the age of 7 years. The most common presentation was an asymptomatic neck mass (7 4%), of which 54% were in the posterior triangle and 17% were in the s ubmandibular space. The treatment was primarily surgical excision: 22 (63%) patients had total surgical excision, 7 (20%) had partial excisi on, and 6 (17%) had needle aspiration. A proposal of management is pre sented.