Picibanil (OK-432) in the treatment of head and neck lymphangiomas in children

BACKGROUND: Picibanil (OK-432) is a lyophilized mixture of group A Streptococcus pyogenes with antineoplastic activity. Because of its capacity to produce a selective fibrosis of lymphangiomas (LMs), it has been approved by Japanese administration in 1995 for the treatment of LMs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 15 children (age range: 6-60 months) affected by head and neck macrocystic LMs with intracystic injections (single dose of 0.2 mL) of Picibanil (1-3 injections). RESULTS: Complete disappearance of the lesion was noticed in eight (53.33%) cases, a marked (>50%) reduction of LMs was found five (33.33%) cases, while a moderate (