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Abstract
Infantile hemangioma (IH) is not strictly speaking a tumor, but the result of anarchic
postnatal vasculogenesis. Hypoxia seems to play an important role as a predisposing
factor. IHs can present three clinical morphologies: superficial, deep, or mixed.
Localized IHs are oval or round, circumscribed lesions, whereas segmental IHs extend
across a large anatomic area with a geographic shape. Localized IHs are often benign,
except when they are located near a noble structure such as the airways or the orbital
area. Segmental IH may be associated with birth defects (PHACES syndrome and SACRAL
syndrome). Clinical follow-up of infants with IH should be very careful in the first
weeks of life since 80% of all IHs have reached their final size at 5 months of age.
The main indications for treatment of IHs are: life-threatening conditions (heart
failure, respiratory distress), functional risks (amblyopia, swallowing disorders,
etc.), aesthetic risks (especially IH of the face localized on the nose, lips, etc.),
and painful ulcerated IH. Beta-blockers, namely propranolol, have quickly become the
first-line therapy of complicated IH. The treatment should be given as soon as possible
to avoid sequelae.