2024 Volume 70 Issue 1 Pages 20-25
Cysts of different embryological etiologies may occur in the head and neck region, including congenital cysts, such as thyroglossal duct cysts, branchial cleft cysts, and lymphangiomas; and acquired cysts, such as plunging ranulas. The treatment of these cysts can be divided into two main categories: excision and sclerotherapy, such as OK-432. We herein report two cases in which OK-432 was effective in treating cysts in the pharynx that were refractory to repeated surgical removal and multiple puncture drainage. Case 1 was a woman in her 30s who had a cyst at the root of the tongue that had been resected twice but had recured within a few months. Case 2 was a woman in her 60s who had undergone repeated surgical procedures for a cyst on the root of the tongue over 30 years ago both cases were treated with OK-432, which allowed the cyst to shrink and remain in a reduced size. Some cysts in the head and neck region are rare, but they recur repeatedly and are refractory, making them difficult to treat. Sclerotherapy with OK-432 may be an effective outpatient treatment option for these cases that are difficult to treat surgically.
