Imaging of infantile hemangiomas: a pictorial essay

Abstract

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common benign vascular neoplasm with a characteristic pattern of progression: at birth, it is not fully developed; in the first days or weeks of life, it grows; and its growth peaks at around one year of age, after which there is spontaneous regression. Although most IHs are superficial and therefore obvious on physical examination, they can also affect deeper planes or other organs, in which case they are best assessed with imaging examinations. Methods such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging can help differentiate IHs from vascular malformations, other benign tumors, and malignant tumors. The aim of this pictorial essay is to demonstrate the various presentations of IHs through illustrative cases, with an emphasis on imaging findings.