Guidelines and parameters: Percutaneous sclerotherapy for the treatment of head and neck venous and lymphatic malformations

Vascular malformations, including VM and LM, of the head and neck are effectively treated by percutaneous sclerotherapy with an excellent clinical response in the majority of patients. Minor complications related to treatment occur in 10-12% of patients treated with detergent sclerosants and in up to 50% of patients when absolute ethanol is used. Major complications are rare in patients being treated with detergent sclerosant agents, but they are more common with the use of absolute ethanol. Future studies should be designed to test the relative effectiveness of different sclerosant agents and techniques. Particular attention should be paid to objective measurement of changes in the volume of treated lesions, improvements in aerodigestive tract and ocular function, and quantified cosmetic improvement in future studies.