Shift of treatment algorithm and methods for infantile hemangiomas

Abstract

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign vascular tumors in infancy, occurring in 10% of full term babies and up to 25% of premature babies. In recent years, with the progress of medical technology and in depth understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of IHs, the treatment algorithm and methods for infantile hemangiomas have been greatly changed. There is a general agreement that IHs should be treated in the early phase rather than wait and see. The treatment should be gradually advanced from non-or minimally invasive to invasive and meanwhile individualized. Oral propranolol has become the first-line treatment choice of IHs. Laser therapy is limited to treat superficial hemangiomas, ulcerated hemangiomas and residual skin telangiectasias. Surgery is mainly used to correct residual lesions after self-involution or various treatments, including residual scarring, permanent disfigurement, redundant or loose skin, and fibro-fatty residuum. Key words: Infantile hemangioma; Propranolol; Timolol; Pulsed dye laser