Infantile hemangioma: An update in the topical and systemic treatments

Abstract

Infantile hemagiomas (IH) are the most common soft tissue tumors in infancy. They are characterized by significant growth during the first months of life, followed by slow spontaneous involution over the ensuring years. The process of involution takes several years, but usually the regression of most of the tumors ends at 4 years of age. Unfortunately, some of the IH develop complications, resulting in functional impairment, pain and disfigurement. The decision to start treatment and the choice of the best therapeutic option (topic or systemic) should be individualized depending on several factors: the size of the lesion, the location, the presence of complications such as ulceration, the risk of scarring or disfigurement, the age of the patient, the rate of growth or regression at the time of diagnosis, the risks and benefits of the treatment, the availability of the medication, the costs, and the experience of the attending physician.