Patient's question:
My baby was found to have abnormal swelling in the right hand at birth, affecting the back of the hand, palm, and fingers. The part of the limb above the wrist is normal. The baby's hand has been growing rapidly, and I measured a three-centimeter increase in the hand circumference within two months.Doctor's answer:
The condition of the child is lymphedema, and there is a high possibility of lymphatic angioma. Most lymphatic angiomas in this area are microcystic lymphatic angiomas, making surgical removal difficult and prone to recurrence postoperatively.Intravascular sclerotherapy can be considered, but it requires multiple injections. Local redness, swelling, and pain may occur, with an approximate effectiveness rate of 60%.
Alternatively, Sirolimus can be considered. This is an immunosuppressant, but it is highly effective for congenital vascular malformations and generally has no significant side effects. Our hospital has been treating children with bone marrow transplantation for many years.
Shanghai Children's Medical Center's Department of Pediatric Surgery is a national clinical key specialty with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating various pediatric surgical diseases.