Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Ultrasound: Journal of the British Medical Ultrasound Society25 Oct 2026

Contrast‑enhanced ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy of vascular malformations in the head and neck: Initial clinical experience in a paediatric case series

Fritjof Lentge¹
Philipp Jehn¹
Omar Abu-Fares²
Max Lukas Linderkamp¹
Efthymios Papazacharias¹
Nils-Claudius Gellrich¹
Philippe Korn¹

¹Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany
²Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Abstract

Purpose:: Vascular malformations of the head and neck pose therapeutic challenges due to complex anatomy and proximity to critical structures. Percutaneous sclerotherapy guided by digital subtraction angiography is effective for low-flow malformations but involves radiation and iodinated contrast. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound offers a radiation-free alternative with real-time visualisation of intralesional contrast.

Methods:: We retrospectively analysed contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy procedures for head and neck malformations in children under 6 years performed since 2021, assessing feasibility, safety and clinical outcomes. Six interventions in six patients (44 days to 3.5 years) were included.

Results:: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound confirmed intralesional needle placement in all cases without evidence of extralesional contrast leakage. Sclerotherapy with Fibrovein or Aethoxysklerol was successfully performed in every procedure. No contrast-related adverse events occurred and all patients showed at least temporary clinical improvement.

Conclusions:: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound therefore appears feasible and safe for guiding sclerotherapy of venolymphatic malformations in the head and neck, enabling real-time verification without ionising radiation or iodinated contrast. The technique may be particularly valuable in paediatric patients requiring repeated interventions.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{lentge2026contrastenhanced,
  title = {{Contrast‑enhanced ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy of vascular malformations in the head and neck: Initial clinical experience in a paediatric case series}},
  author = {Fritjof Lentge and Philipp Jehn and Omar Abu-Fares and Max Lukas Linderkamp and Efthymios Papazacharias and Nils-Claudius Gellrich and Philippe Korn},
  journal = {Ultrasound: Journal of the British Medical Ultrasound Society},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1177/1742271x261495660},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1742271x261495660},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Contrast‑enhanced ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy of vascular malformations in the head and neck: Initial clinical experience in a paediatric case series
AU  - Fritjof Lentge
AU  - Philipp Jehn
AU  - Omar Abu-Fares
AU  - Max Lukas Linderkamp
AU  - Efthymios Papazacharias
AU  - Nils-Claudius Gellrich
AU  - Philippe Korn
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Ultrasound: Journal of the British Medical Ultrasound Society
DO  - 10.1177/1742271x261495660
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/1742271x261495660
AB  - Purpose:: Vascular malformations of the head and neck pose therapeutic challenges due to complex anatomy and proximity to critical structures. Percutaneous sclerotherapy guided by digital subtraction angiography is effective for low-flow malformations but involves radiation and iodinated contrast. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound offers a radiation-free alternative with real-time visualisation of intralesional contrast.  Methods:: We retrospectively analysed contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy procedures for head and neck malformations in children under 6 years performed since 2021, assessing feasibility, safety and clinical outcomes. Six interventions in six patients (44 days to 3.5 years) were included.  Results:: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound confirmed intralesional needle placement in all cases without evidence of extralesional contrast leakage. Sclerotherapy with Fibrovein or Aethoxysklerol was successfully performed in every procedure. No contrast-related adverse events occurred and all patients showed at least temporary clinical improvement.  Conclusions:: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound therefore appears feasible and safe for guiding sclerotherapy of venolymphatic malformations in the head and neck, enabling real-time verification without ionising radiation or iodinated contrast. The technique may be particularly valuable in paediatric patients requiring repeated interventions.
SN  - 1742-271X
SN  - 1743-1344
ER  -

Abstract

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