Infantile hemangiomas: an update on pathogenesis and therapy

Pediatrics. 2013 Jan;131(1):99-108. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1128. Epub 2012 Dec 24.

Abstract

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common vascular tumors of childhood, affecting ~5% of all infants. Although most lesions proliferate and then involute with minimal consequence, a significant minority can be disfiguring, functionally significant, or, rarely, life-threatening. Recent discoveries concerning hemangioma pathogenesis provide both an improved understanding and more optimal approach to workup and management. Important detrimental associations can be seen with IH, such as significant structural anomalies associated with segmental IH. Standards of care have dramatically changed evaluation and management of hemangiomas. The goal of timely recognition and therapy is to minimize or eliminate long-term sequelae. New modalities, such as oral propranolol, provide the caregiver with better therapeutic options, which can prevent or minimize medical risk or scarring, but the side effect profile and risk-benefit ratio of such interventions must always be evaluated before instituting therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Disease Management
  • Hemangioma / diagnosis
  • Hemangioma / etiology*
  • Hemangioma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Vascular Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / therapy*