Sclerotherapy for eyelid and anterior orbital venous-lymphatic malformation

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of sclerotherapy with sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS; Fibrovein 1%) in superficial periocular venous and lymphatic malformations. METHODS: Eleven patients with low-flow venous and lymphatic malformations with extension predominantly to the eyelids, conjunctiva, and anterior orbit were selected. Sclerotherapy with STS was undertaken as an office-based procedure without any radiological guidance. Injections were repeated every 4 weeks until desired response occurred. Therapeutic effect was assessed objectively by change in the size of the lesions in serial photography. RESULTS: The lesions completely resolved in 4 cases with small eyelid and fornix lesions. In other 7 cases there was partial resolution to less than half of primary size. We did not have any significant complications. CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy with STS is an easy and effective modality for treatment of venous-lymphatic malformations and can be undertaken as an office-based procedure in lesions which are limited to eyelids and anterior orbit.