The authors report a case of mediastinal lymphangioma successfully treated with Kampo medicine.
Methods:
A 2-year-old boy with an axillary soft mass consulted our clinic. Physical examination findings were normal except for axillary elastic swelling. The neck and chest magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) showed a multilocular mass starting from a cervical lesion and extending above the carina.
Results:
After 9 months of Kampo administration, MRI showed marked regression of mediastinal lymphangioma.
Conclusions:
It was found that Kampo medicine might be safe and effective as an alternative choice of treatment for lymphangiomas.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
OrvidasLJ, KasperbauerJL. Pediatric lymphangiomas of the head and neck. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 2000; 109:411–421.
EyrichGK, BruderE, HilfikerPet al.Temperature mapping of magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) in lymphangiomas of the head and neck. Lasers Surg Med, 2000; 26:467–476.
4.
ReinhardtMA, NelsonSC, SencerSFet al.Treatment of childhood lymphangiomas with interferon-alpha. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 1997; 19:232–236.
5.
TaguchiS, TatsutaK, IeiriSet al.Efficacy of OK-432 local injection for the treatment of a neonatal branchial cleft cyst: A case report. Pediatr Surg Int, 2005; 21:1004–1006.
6.
HallN, Ade-AjayiN, BrewisCet al.Is intralesional injection of OK-432 effective in the treatment of lymphangioma in children?Surgery, 2003; 133:238–242.
7.
TerasawaK. Kampo, Japanese Oriental Medicine. Insights from Clinical Cases. Tokyo: K.K. Standard McIntyre, 1993; 187–188.
8.
HikinoH, KonnoC, TakataHet al.Antiinflammatory principle of Ephedra herbs. Chem Pharmaceut Bull, 1980; 28:2900–2904.
9.
KasaharaY, HikinoH, TsurufujiSet al.Antiinflammatory actions of ephedrines in acute inflammations. Planta Med, 1985; 51:325–331.
10.
ShiroishiH, TerasawaK, FuseSet al.Inhibitory effects on fibroblast proliferation of Eppi-ka-jutsu-to, Ephedrae herba and constituents of Ephedra. J Med Pharmaceut Soc Wakan-Yaku, 1991; 8:153–161.
11.
BenjaminHS, OngP, ToskJ. Macrophage chemiluminescence modulated by Chinese medical herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum. Phytother Res, 1989; 3:148–153.
12.
WangJ, ItoH, ShimuraK. Enhancing effect of antitumor polysaccharide from Astragalus or Radix hedysarum on C3 cleavage production of macrophages in mice. Jpn J Pharmacol, 1989; 51:432.
