Ulcerated haemangioma of infancy: a retrospective review of 47 patients

Extract

Conflicts of interest: none declared.

Sir, Haemangiomas—the most common benign tumour of infancy—have a unique and dynamic natural history with three phases: a rapid proliferation during the first year of life, a brief plateau, then a slow involution that lasts several years. Most require only watchful waiting; however, some haemangiomas require intervention for problems including ophthalmological complications, airway compromise and ulceration. Ulceration is believed to be the most common complication of haemangiomas with an estimated 5–21% incidence.^1–5 Treatment of ulceration is mandatory, as significant pain, potential for bleeding and infection, and increased risk of scarring exist. Two studies have focused on haemangioma ulceration.³, ⁶ Both evaluated features of ulcerated haemangiomas but lack comparison data from nonulcerated haemangiomas. In this study, charts of patients diagnosed with haemangiomas referred to the Pediatric Dermatology Unit at New York University over a 9‐year period (July 1992 to January 2001) were reviewed. All haemangiomas were analysed to determine anatomical and other predisposing factors for ulceration.