Angiographic classification and sclerotic therapy of maxillofacial cavernous haemangiomas: a report of 204 cases

Abstract

A total of 204 patients with maxillofacial cavernous haemangiomas were examined by digital subtraction angiography to investigate the factors affecting therapeutic outcome and to optimize treatment selection. Cavernous haemangiomas were classified as high- or low-drainage based on the nature of the draining veins. Patients were randomized to receive either embolization of the draining veins with absolute ethanol followed by bleomycin A5 hydrochloride intra-tumoural injection, or intra-tumoural injection only. In patients with high-drainage haemangiomas (n = 140), there were significant improvements in the complete cure rate and the overall effective rate in those who had received embolization prior to intra-tumoural injection compared with those who had received intra-tumoural injection only. In patients with low-drainage haemangiomas (n = 64), there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups. It is concluded that embolotherapy of draining veins prior to hydrochloride injection is effective for treating high-drainage cavernous haemangiomas whereas bleomycin A5 hydrochloride injection alone is suitable for treating low-drainage cavernous haemangiomas.