Airway hemangiomas: Multicenter outcome results

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Infantile hemangiomas are the most common cause of tumors in children. They usually located on head and neck. Airway hemangiomas usually cause respiratory symptoms, especially subglottic hemangiomas that early diagnosis and treatments are very important. AIM AND METHODS: To examine of the features of airway hemangiomas and to determine of the approach of diagnosis and treatment. The data of 8 patients obtain from several center from retrospectively. RESULTS: Three of patients were girl (% 37.5), and 5 of the patients were boy (% 63.5). Average age of diagnosis was 5.2 ± 5.4 months (1-17 months). Average duration of follow up was 18,6±16 (3-48 months). The primary symptom was stridor in 7 of patients (% 87,5) and hemoptysis in 1 of patients. All of patients were performed with flexible bronchoscopy. 4 of patients required screening method like magnetic resonans (MR) for neck to confirm diagnosis. Medical treatment was applied to 7 patients, 1 of the patients were treated with surgical. The choices of treatment were propronalol+prednisolon, propronalol+metilprednisolon, metilprednisolon, propranolol; 3, 2, 1,1, respectively. All of patients were still on treatment. During follow up 5 of the patients were asymptomatic, 3 of the patients were symptomatic as stridor when there was an upper respiratory tract infection. CONCLUSION: Airway hemangiomas are an important differential diagnosis of stridor in infants. Early diagnosis and treatment of airway hemangiomas are very important. The first choice of treatment is usually medical but surgical treatment may perform firstly in proper cases as an alternative treatment choice.