EFFECTIVENESS OF DOXYCYCLINE SCLEROTHERAPY IN PEDIATRIC HEAD AND NECK LYMPHANGIOMAS

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of intralesional Doxycyline sclerotherapy in pediatric head and neck lymphangioma. Materials & Methods: It was a retrospective chart review of the children who underwent Doxycycline sclerotherapy of lymphangioma of head and neck region over a period of 2 years between August 2017 to July 2019 at the Department of ENT & HNS,Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal.Medical records were reviewed and evaluated for following variables like age, sex, history, examination findings including site of lesion, ultrasonographic findings,number of injection, dose of Doxycycline and any side effectsnoted and the final outcome of sclerotherapy. Results: There was complete resolution of the macrocysticlesion infourcases (12.5%) after two sessions of Doxycycline sclerotherapy. The partial resolution of lymphangioma occurred in 20 cases (62.5%) with mixed type of lymphangioma whereas, in eight cases (25%), there was no response observed even after six sessions of sclerotherapy. Minor side effects like local site erythema and swelling were observed in 20 cases. Secondary infection was seen in eight cases. Eight patients developed fever after injection which was resolved within 24 hours. Conclusion: Doxycycline sclerotherapy is safe and effective in the treatment of head and neck lymphangioma in the pediatric population. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Online class, Postgraduate student