What is sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy involves accessing a cyst-like compartment of the lesion through the skin with a small needle. A variety of medications, such as Sotradecol, may be used. The medication is injected and acts as a "sclerosant", meaning that it induces inflammation within the structure, causing it to gradually collapse and heal. Sclerotherapy is a gradual series of treatments as the healing process can take time to occur. A thorough discussion is necessary before any sclerotherapy treatment given the many variables that are factored into each unique case.

For what conditions is sclerotherapy performed and why?

Sclerotherapy is a technique employed for the treatment of head and neck malformations. There are many different types and locations of vascular malformations. Careful selection of those appropriate for sclerotherapy is extremely important. In a typical case, the vascular malformation is characterized by physical examination and ultrasound, in addition to pre-procedural imaging with MRI. Depending on how much blood flow to the malformation there is, catheter angiography may be necessary with or without embolization from this approach.