Purpose: Haemangioma of infancy (HOI) is the most frequently occurring benign tumour of infancy. Alarming HOI require treatment. Current therapy is empirically based; corticosteroids are often administered but in recent publications propranolol was reported to be more effective. Peri-ocular HOI are highly sensitive to corticosteroids. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of intra-lesional corticosteroids in the treatment of peri-ocular HOI. Methods: We selected all patients with peri-ocular HOI who had only been treated with intra-lesional corticosteroids at our hospital from 1993 until 2009. Treatment was standardized according to a prospective protocol. Results: A total of n = 34 patients were included. There were no complications at all after therapy. A second intra-lesional injection was necessary in five patients. At follow-up after 6 and 12 months after injection, 94 and 91% of the patients, respectively, had regression of the HOI. Astigmatism, Haemangioma Activity Score and global assessments all had improved after therapy. Conclusions: This study shows that intra-lesional therapy with corticosteroids is very safe in the treatment of peri-ocular HOI. It remains a good and safe alternative besides propranolol or when propranolol therapy is not possible (e.g. asthma, PHACE syndrome, and certain cardiac diseases).

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doi.org/10.1007/s00383-011-3037-7, hdl.handle.net/1765/33576
Pediatric Surgery International
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Janmohamed, S., Madern, G., Nieuwenhuis, K., de Laat, P. C. J., & Oranje, A. (2012). Evaluation of intra-lesional corticosteroids in the treatment of peri-ocular haemangioma of infancy: still an alternative besides propranolol. Pediatric Surgery International, 28(4), 393–398. doi:10.1007/s00383-011-3037-7