PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - M.H. Rho AU - D.W. Kim AU - J.S. Kwon AU - S.W. Lee AU - Y.S. Sung AU - Y.K. Song AU - M.G. Kim AU - S.G. Kim TI - OK-432 Sclerotherapy of Plunging Ranula in 21 Patients: It Can Be a Substitute for Surgery DP - 2006 May 01 TA - American Journal of Neuroradiology PG - 1090--1095 VI - 27 IP - 5 4099 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/27/5/1090.short 4100 - http://www.ajnr.org/content/27/5/1090.full SO - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2006 May 01; 27 AB - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although first-choice therapy for the ranula is surgery, this choice presents technical difficulties and frequent recurrences because of insufficient surgery. We evaluated the efficacy of OK-432 sclerosis of the plunging ranula as a substitute for surgery.METHODS: Twenty-one patients with plunging ranula were treated with intralesional injection of OK-432. The liquid content of the ranula was aspirated as much as possible, after which OK-432 solution was injected in the same volumes as that drawn out. Patients were followed on sonography or CT.RESULTS: Seven (33.3%) patients with plunging ranulas showed total shrinkage and resolution, and 4 (19%) patients showed near-total shrinkage (more than 90% of the volume). Four (19%) patients revealed marked shrinkage (more than 70% of the volume), and 3 (14.3%) patients showed partial shrinkage (less than 70% of the volume). Three (14.3%) patients showed recurrence after total shrinkage 1 month after injection. The overall recurrence rate after each injection was 47% (16 of 34 injections in 21 patients), but the recurrence rate after the last sclerotherapy was only 14%. There were no serious side effects except for fever lasting 2–3 days (12 patients) and swelling (10 patients) for 3–5 days. Mild odynophagia for 1–2 days was also noted in 7 patients, and there was 1 severe case of odynophagia.CONCLUSION: OK-432 sclerotherapy of plunging ranula is a safe and potentially curative procedure that may be used as a primary treatment for plunging ranula before considering surgery.