Surgical treatment of cervicofacial cystic hygromas in children.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of cervicofacial cystic hygromas in children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 17 patients who were operated for cervicofacial cystic hygroma between 1985 and 2004 were evaluated in terms of age, gender, symptoms, diagnostic workups, outcomes and complications.

RESULTS: There was a slight male predominance -- 10 (59%) boys and 7 (41%) girls. Nine (53%) out of 17 lesions were located on the left side of the neck, 7 (41%) lesions were located on the right side of the neck and 1 lesion (6%) was located in the middle of the neck. Eleven (65%) lesions were located in the infrahyoid region, 6 (35%) lesions in the suprahyoid region. Following surgical excision of the lesion, we encountered 4 postoperative complications: 1 recurrence (6%), 2 facial paralyses (12%) and 1 collection of fluid (6%) at the resection site. The patient who had a recurring lesion needed to be reoperated, other complications were treated conservatively.

CONCLUSIONS: Cervicofacial cystic hygromas are easy to diagnose. There is no need for expensive and time-consuming imaging studies. Surgery seems the treatment of choice. However, nonsurgical treatment options may be considered for the lesions located over the parotid region in order to avoid complications of surgery.