Effect of electrochemotherapy in treating patients with venous malformations / 中国结合医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electrochemotherapy in treating venous malformations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Electrochemotherapy was applied to 665 patients with venous malformations of limbs and trunk, and 505 cases were followed up for half to 6 years. In this study, 228 male and 277 female patients were involved. Diagnosis was made by clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging. The platinum electrodes were inserted into tumor through a trocar with plastic insulating cannula percutaneously and connected with the electrochemical therapeutic apparatus in anodes and cathodes separately. Then electricity was given. The treating voltage is 6-12 V and volume 100-180 mA, the total electricity used is in general 80-100 coulombs per 1.0 square centimeter of tumors' area. The treating time was usually from several dozen minutes to over 2 h depending on the size of the tumor. The severe cases which needed to be treated once again usually were operated after 6 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The primary efficacy end point was defined as an improvement of patients' symptoms and a reduction in size of tumor 6 months after treatment. Effects were divided into 4 grades, and the efficacy rate decreased from grade 1 to grade 4. The efficacy turned out that 30.1% (152/505) of patients was classified as grade 1; 46.3% (234/505) as grade 2; 19.0% (96/505) as grade 3 and 4.6% (23/505) as grade 4.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Electrochemotherapy shows special superiorities in treating venous malformations. It might bring a confirmed clinical efficacy with the advantages of less injury, quick recovery, simple operation and less complications.</p>