New methods of hemangioma treatment

Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors in infants and children, with an incidence of 1.1% to 2.6% in newborns [1]. It is commonly seen in preterm infants, especially in females, and 2/3 of patients with hemangiomas involve the head and neck. The exact mechanism of its origin is unclear and there may be multiple causes [2]: (i) origin in placental tissue; (ii) origin in mutant vascular endothelial progenitor cells; and (iii) massive proliferation of hemangioma endothelial cells because of the hypoxic environment. There are apparently spontaneous periodic physiological processes in hemangiomas: (i) proliferative phase; (ii) degenerative phase; and (iii) late degenerative phase. Most infantile hemangiomas may undergo spontaneous degeneration as the children get older, and therefore do not require special treatment. Cao Qingke, Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of Jiaxing City, if it is clear that it is a simple hemangioma, 50% of the tumors can regress spontaneously around the age of 5 and 70% by the age of 7. If the growth is not fast, it can be observed for a period of time, but if it is combined with vascular malformation or appears in the following cases, it is better to treat it actively: 1) hemangioma grows on exposed parts such as face, neck, limbs or parts covered by diapers that are prone to friction. 2) Complications such as infection and ulceration, active bleeding, thrombocytopenia, etc. 3) Excessive growth. 4) Interference with organ function. However, treatment needs to be considered once the hemangioma affects the appearance or causes visual impairment and airway obstruction. There are no highly targeted measures for treatment, and commonly used drugs include glucocorticoids, interferon alpha, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine, etc. All of the above therapeutic drugs have varying degrees of adverse effects, which limit their clinical application [3]. Since Léauté-Labrèze et al [4] reported in 2008 the successful treatment of pediatric hemangioma patients with a β-blocker-propranolol (propranolol), it has become a new option for the pharmacological treatment of hemangioma because it is well tolerated and has fewer side effects compared to systemic steroids.