PROXIMAL PRIORITY TREATMENT FOR LOWER EXTREMITY LYMPHANGIOMA

Abstract

Lymphangioma is a congenital malformation of the lymphatic system which usually occurs in children before the age of two years. Treatment options include surgical excision, radiation, aspiration, incision and drainage, and image-guided sclerotherapy, but the results have been unsatisfactory. Lymphangioma is histologically benign, but invades the surrounding structures so that local recurrence is common and the complication rate is high. Low reactive Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is known for its beneficial effects such as pain attenuation, accelerated or enhanced wound healing, increased blood flow following LLLT and improvement of lymphatic flow. We report an unresectable lymphangioma patient who was treated with LLLT. Before LLLT, she had been suffering from lymphedema, cutaneous lymphorrhea, and pain. After LLLT, the lymphedema had improved and the cutaneous lymphorrhea and pain had completely resolved. We suggest that LLLT might become a successful treatment option in case of unresectable lymphangioma following lymphedema and cutaneous lymphorrhea.