Infantile hemangiomas: An update on pathogenesis, associations, and management

Abstract

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common vascular neoplasm in infants. The typical clinical course of IH follows a pattern of growth (proliferation) followed by spontaneous involution. The majority of IH are isolated to the skin; however, some cutaneous IH can be associated with internal organ involvement or anomalies. IH which are functionally impairing, ulcerated or potentially disfiguring require therapy. Treatment options include systemic or topical beta-blockers, systemic or intralesional corticosteroids, pulsed dye laser therapy, or surgical excision. In this article, we review the updated understanding of IH pathogenesis, clinical presentations and associations, and approaches to management.

Keywords

• Infantile hemangioma
• propranolol
• timolol
• vascular