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. 2012 Dec;9(Suppl 2):S192-6.
doi: 10.4103/1735-3327.109752.

Picibanil (OK-432) in the treatment of head and neck lymphangiomas in children

Elena Rebuffini  1 , Luca Zuccarino, Emma Grecchi, Francesco Carinci, Vittorio Emanuele Merulla
Affiliations

Picibanil (OK-432) in the treatment of head and neck lymphangiomas in children

Elena Rebuffini et al. Dent Res J (Isfahan). 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Picibanil (OK-432) is a lyophilized mixture of group A Streptococcus pyogenes with antineoplastic activity. Because of its capacity to produce a selective fibrosis of lymphangiomas (LMs), it has been approved by Japanese administration in 1995 for the treatment of LMs.

Materials and methods: We treated 15 children (age range: 6-60 months) affected by head and neck macrocystic LMs with intracystic injections (single dose of 0.2 mL) of Picibanil (1-3 injections).

Results: Complete disappearance of the lesion was noticed in eight (53.33%) cases, a marked (>50%) reduction of LMs was found five (33.33%) cases, while a moderate (<50%) response was recorded in two (13.33%) cases. Picibanil side effects included fever, local inflammation, and transitory increase of blood platelets' concentration; a single case of anemia was resolved with concentrated red blood cells transfusion.

Conclusions: Intracystic injection of Picibanil is an effective and safe treatment for macrocystic LMs in pediatric patients and may represent the treatment of choice in such cases, especially where surgical excision is associated with the risk of functional/cosmetic side effects.

Keywords: Children; lymphangiomas; pediatric age; picibanil (OK-432).

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A 24-month-old female with macrocystic lymphangioma of the tongue
Figure 2
Figure 2
The patient 1 year after the injection of Picibanil
Figure 3
Figure 3
Clinical resolution of swelling due to tongue lymphangioma
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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