Clinical profile and morphologic types of infantile hemangioma. A study of 252 children

ABSTRACT

Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumours of infancy which can affect skin as well as internal viscera. Superficial hemangiomas may show clinical diversity in sites of involvement, number, age of onset, morphology etc. The objective of present study was to record the clinical profile and morphologic types of infantile hemangiomas. 252 children presenting with cutaneous hemangioma during a period of two years from January, 2003 to December, 2004 were included in the study. Their demographic characteristics, the clinical morphology, sites of involvement and complications were recorded. A total of 315 lesions were observed in 252 children. Median age of presentation was 6.8 months and females outnumbered males with 2.71 ratio. 69.2% lesions were confined to head and neck region. Localized type of lesions [83.2%] were the most frequent presentation than segmental [15.6%] or multifocal [1 .2%], usually presenting as nodules or plaques. The rate of extracutaneous hemangiomas, systemic complications or developmental anomalies was significantly low. Localized hemangiomas are a common occurrence during infancy and systemic complications usually do not arise