Intralesional corticosteroid therapy for childhood cutaneous hemangiomas

Ann Plast Surg. 1994 Jul;33(1):46-51. doi: 10.1097/00000637-199407000-00009.

Abstract

Response to intralesional steroid therapy (triamcinolone acetonide and betamethasone acetate) was studied in 70 children of all ages with 74 cutaneous hemangiomas located in a variety of locations. One to seven injections were given without anesthesia with a mean interval of 6 weeks between the injections. Results analyzed 2 months after the last injection showed more than 75% reduction in volume in 43 (58.11%), 50% to 75% reduction in 16 (21.62%), 25% to 50% reduction in 9 (12.16%), and less than 25% reduction in 6 (8.11%) lesions. Response was not related to age, sex, or site of the lesion, but only 2 lesions (22.22%) with an initial volume of more than 20 cm3 showed more than 50% reduction. None showed regrowth within a mean follow-up period of 14 months. Transient cushingoid faces and hypopigmentation were noted in 2 patients each. We feel that intralesional steroid therapy is safe and effective for all cutaneous hemangiomas irrespective of site, sex, or age of the patient.

MeSH terms

  • Betamethasone / administration & dosage*
  • Betamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hemangioma, Capillary / drug therapy*
  • Hemangioma, Capillary / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Time Factors
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide / administration & dosage*
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Betamethasone
  • Triamcinolone Acetonide