RESUMO
Objective To discuss the therapeutic effect of transcatheter arterial embolization using hardening agent combined with oral propranolol in treating giant hemangioma at maxillofacial region in infants. Methods During the period from October 2013 to December 2014 at Imaging Center of Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital, transcatheter arterial embolization using hardening agent combined with oral propranolol was employed in a total of 27 infants with giant hemangioma at maxillofacial region. The age of the infants ranged from 2 months to 22 months (mean 5.9 months) and the body weight was 4.5-10 kg with a mean of 6.32 kg. Angiography via femoral artery was performed, which was followed by super-selective catheterization of hemangioma-feeding artery, and then pingyangmycin lipiodol emulsion was injected into the hemangiomas with subsequent injection of PVA particles to obstruct the hemangioma-feeding artery. After the embolization treatment, the patient received oral propranolol for 3-6 months. Results All the infant patients were followed up for 3-6 months. Clinical examination and ultrasonography indicated that the hemangioma was cured in 20 infants (75%) and the therapeutic result was effective in 7 infants (25%). Skin necrosis at hemangiomas site was observed in 2 infants (7.5%), which was cured after symptomatic treatment. No serious complications such as pulmonary embolism, cerebral embolism occurred, and no recurrence was observed. Conclusion For the treatment of giant hemangioma at maxillofacial region in infants, transcatheter arterial embolization using hardening agent combined with oral propranolol is minimally invasive, quickly effective and highly safe;and this treatment leaves no scar formation in most cases. Therefore, this technique is worthy of clinical application.