OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical approaches and therapeutic effect of lymphatic malformations located in head and neck in children.

METHODSEleven cases of lymphatic malformations in the region of head and neck in children encountered between Jan. 1998 and Dec.2008 in Peking University First Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Initial diagnosis was made based on the physical examination and then confirmed by MR and Enhanced CT imaging. Surgical therapy was used for patients with lymphatic malformation which exceeds 4 cm. The operative technique was as follows: mass resection and superficial parotidectomy (4 cases), mass resection and total parotidectomy (2 cases), mass resection with neck dissection (2 cases), mass resection with neck dissection and sternotomy (1 case), marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve dissection and mass resection (2 cases). Dissection outside the false capsule was applied during the operation and facial nerve was dissected from bole to terminal arborization.

RESULTSThe mass was completely removed in all 11 cases without organ dysfunction and obvious disfigurement. The cure rate was 100%. Three cases suffered from a branch of facial nerve paralysis because of tension and 1 case had a Horner's syndrome after operation. One case needed a blood transfusion (150 ml) during the operation. All cases have been followed up with excellent results from 6 to 121 months, 32 months of the median, no mass recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSDissection outside the false capsule of mass and dissection of facial nerve were applied in the surgical treatment of huge lymphatic malformations. These methods are effective in the preservation of function and avoidance of abnormality.