Abstract

TORRES-PALOMINO, Gregory; JUAREZ-DOMINGUEZ, Gabriela; GUERRERO-HERNANDEZ, Manuel  and  MENDEZ-SANCHEZ, Lucía. Airway obstruction due to cystic hygroma in a newborn. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2014, vol.71, n.4, pp.233-237. ISSN 1665-1146.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmhimx.2014.07.001.

Background: Cystic hygroma is a diffuse dilatation of the lymphatic system, which can be prenatally diagnosed by ultrasound. The incidence is 1/6,000 live births and 1/750 spontaneous abortions. This malformation can occur at the cervical level located in the inferior lateral part of the neck where it appears with large single or multilocular cavities. It is generally caused by a lack of connection with jugular lymphatic channels or with the venous drainage system lymph sacs. Case report: In order to emphasize these diseases and non-surgical treatment options, we present a patient with a cervical cystic hygroma that compromises the airway and digestive tract due to tumor extension and treatment with pure ethanol with clinical improvement. Conclusions: Depending on the characteristics of the lesion, treatment options are surgery, pharmacological or mixed. When the extension involves vital organs, the best option is to reduce the size of the lesion and the compromise of the adjacent organ. This is done by sclerotherapy and, if necessary, surgery.

Keywords : Cystic hygroma; Cystic lymphangioma; Lymphatic malformations.