Infantile Hemangiomas of the Head and Neck: A Single-Center Experience

TL;DR

This study examines the treatment and outcomes of infantile hemangiomas in the head and neck, finding that most resolve on their own but some require propranolol treatment.

Contribution

The study provides insights into treatment effectiveness and complication rates in a large cohort of head and neck infantile hemangioma cases.

Findings

Most patients (45%) required no treatment and had no local complications.

Propranolol treatment showed a 98% response rate with a 17% complication rate.

Children aged 3–9 months were most likely to experience complications.

Abstract

Background: Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign vascular tumors of infancy. Methods: We report our experiences with 248 patients with head and neck IHs. Results: The median admission age was 4 months, and the female/male ratio was 2.18. Among the cases, 45% were followed by no treatment. No local complications were observed in any of these patients. Propranolol was provided to all patients who received medical treatment. The median duration of treatment was 12 months (1–30 months), and the median follow-up period of all patients was 14 months (0–118 months). The treatment response was 98%. The complication rate was 17%, and children aged between 3 and 9 months accounted for 60% of the patients who developed complications. Most of the complications were local complications, such as ulceration and bleeding. Conclusions: Although most IHs regress spontaneously, complications may occur. Propranolol alone is an effective treatment option, and early treatment initiation increases the success rate.

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