The Efficacy of Polidocanol foam Sclerotherapy in Treatment of Infantile Hemangioma and Slow-Flow Vascular Malformation

Background: Sclerotherapy is a simple treatment modality for treatment of infantile hemangioma and slow-flow vascular malformations; Polidocanol is a mild sclerosing agent that is traditionally used in treatment of varicose veins. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, treatment outcome, and complications of polidocanol foam sclerotherapy for infantile hemangioma and slow-flow vascular malformations. Materials and methods: Between March 2013 and December 2014, seventeen patients with infantile hemangioma and slow-flow vascular malformations treated with polidocanol 1% foam sclerotherapy. Foam was prepared by Tessari’s method. Injection performed under general or local anesthesia, injections were repeated (if necessary) on monthly basis, assessment of lesion size and response to treatment was performed by ultrasonography. Effectiveness of polidocanol foam sclerotherapy was evaluated according to reduction in lesion size. Results: A total of 17 patients were enrolled, 15 of them (88.23%) were females and 2 (11.76%) were males, with age range from 10 months to 57 years old (mean age 21.69). Eleven patents (64.7%) had venous malformations while 6 patients (35.29%) had infantile hemangioma. Mean number of treatment sessions was 2.76. Nine patients had excellent outcome, 3 with good outcome, 3 with fair outcome and 2 had poor outcome in relation to lesion size. Complications were transient. Conclusions: Polidocanol foam sclerotherapy is an easy to perform procedure, safe, and repeatable, provide excellent outcome for venous malformations and good outcome for infantile hemangioma.