Lymphatic malformation: Predictive factors for recurrence

OBJECTIVE: Although lymphatic malformations are often found to be well circumscribed when surgery is undertaken in early childhood, complete surgical excision can be difficult when the lesion is infiltrative. This study retrospectively evaluates these patients in an attempt to identity prognostic factors that may predict recurrence. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective chart review was conducted covering the years 1991 to 1998. Seventeen patients were identified having undergone 32 surgical resections of tumors described as lymphatic malformations. Data abstracted from the charts included the site of the lesion, surgical and histologic assessment of encapsulation, and status at follow-up examination. RESULTS: Six of 17 patients developed a recurrence after surgery. Correlation between recurrence and histologic or operative impressions of encapsulation was significant by chi (2) analysis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the findings of this case series, lymphatic malformations that are found to be nonencapsulated and infiltrative by intraoperative or histologic assessment are more likely to recur.