Retropharyngeal lymphatic malformations: report of two successfully treated cases and review of the literature

Retropharyngeal lymphatic malformations (LMs) are exceedingly rare and have rarely been reported in the literature. This condition can be life threatening, and its management is particularly challenging. Over a two-year period, two patients who presented with symptomatic (dyspnoea, snoring) retropharyngeal LMs were treated in our hospital. Both patients were treated using radiofrequency ablation of LMs through a trans-oral approach and bleomycin sclerotherapy as adjunctive treatment. No major complications occurred following surgery. During follow-up, no recurrence was noted, and both patients were asymptomatic. Our result and the review of the literature suggests that radiofrequency ablation combined with bleomycin sclerotherapy can be a safe and effective treatment.