Percutaneous sclerotherapy for venous malformation of the lips: a retrospective study of 23 patients

Labial venous malformations are relatively common. Depending on their size, they are responsible for functional and cosmetic handicap. When treatment is indicated, it will be based on percutaneous sclerotherapy, using Ethibloc(R) or Aetoxysclerol(R), with surgery in some patients. Our purpose was to review 23 patients with soft-tissue venous malformations of the lips. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 4 years. Sclerotherapy alone or with surgical resection achieved good results in 18 patients. In six patients mild improvement was obtained. No worsening of the initial clinical situation occurred, and no persistent complication was observed. We discuss the indications for treatment and the different types of slerosing agent. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is safe and is effective for small and medium-size labial malformations. For larger lesions the treatment is more complex and combined long term sclerotherapy and surgery procedures may be required over several years.