Orofacial lymphatic malformation: management with a three steps diode laser protocol

Lymphatic Malformation (LM) according to ISSVA Classification, is a rare benign disorder with unknown aetiology. LM may grow slowly over years or develop rapidly over the course of days becoming a bulky lump, infected or bleeding. We propose our three steps Diode Laser protocol for LM management, based on its persistent vascular blood component. 1. Histological and cytological examination, to evaluate the vascular blood component (10-40%), shows mature lymphocytes with red blood cells and endothelial cells. 2. Diode Laser Photocoagulation (DLP) in pulsed mode (on 100ms / off 400ms) at 10W and 800nm with a 300μm fibre kept 2-3mm from the tissues, to reduce the lesion. 3. Diode Laser surgical excision in pulsed mode (on 50ms / off 200ms) at 8W and 800nm with a 300 μm fibre in close contact with tissues, and histological intraoperative margins control on frozen sections. Even if it has inconstant results (lesions decreasing rate is 10% to 40% proportionally to vascular blood component), DLP simplifies the last and the most important step. Use of Diode Laser also in surgical excision reduces intra and postoperatory complications