Transoral ultrasonic surgery of pharyngolaryngeal giant hemangioma after ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx) embolization.

BACKGROUND

Cervico-mediastinal hemangiomas in adulthood are rare and slow-growing vascular tumors. The optimal treatment for giant hemangiomas is controversial. In asymptomatic cases, clinical observation is generally recommended.

METHODS

We report the transoral resection of a pharyngolaryngeal hemangioma (diameters of 44 × 56 × 39 mm) with tracheal involvement and mediastinal extension. Clinically, the patient had throat foreign body sensation, severe dyspnea and stridor. The hemangioma was first embolized by injecting ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx) transorally, and then the obstructive aspect of the tumor was resected with a bipolar and ultrasonic clamp (ThunderBeat®, Olympus).

RESULTS

Two months after surgery, nasal fiberendoscopy showed complete disappearance of the vascular mass at the larynx and hypopharynx, with a normal mobility of the larynx.

CONCLUSION

In symptomatic patients, surgical reduction of large pharyngolaryngeal hemangiomas may be feasible by direct embolization and transoral ultrasonic resection. Both may provide an almost bloodless surgical field. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1239-1242, 2017.