Infantile Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations

Infantile Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations

Infantile Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations

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Infantile Hemangiomas & Vascular Malformations - Intro & Contrast

FeatureInfantile Hemangioma (IH)Vascular Malformation (VM)
AppearanceNot at birth; first few weeksPresent at birth (may be subtle)
Clinical CourseProliferates (1st yr), then involutesGrows with child; persists
CellularEndothelial hyperplasia; GLUT1+Normal endothelium; GLUT1-
NatureBenign vascular tumorDevelopmental anomaly

Infantile Hemangiomas & Vascular Malformations - Strawberry Marks

  • Infantile Hemangiomas (IH): Benign vascular tumors. "Strawberry mark" for superficial type.
    • Natural History:
      • Proliferation phase: Rapid growth (first ~6 months).
      • Involution phase: Slow regression (50% by 5 yrs, 90% by 9 yrs).
    • Types: Superficial (raised, bright red), Deep (bluish, subcutaneous), Mixed.
    • When to worry (Indications for treatment):
      • Ulceration (most common complication), bleeding.
      • Obstruction: Vision (periorbital), airway (subglottic).
      • Large facial lesions (disfigurement).
      • Multiple IHs (>5, risk of visceral hemangiomas).
      • Syndromic: PHACE, LUMBAR.
    • Management:
      • Observation for most.
      • Oral Propranolol: First-line for complicated IH.
      • Topical Timolol: Small, superficial lesions.

⭐ Most infantile hemangiomas undergo spontaneous involution; however, propranolol is the mainstay for problematic lesions.

Diagram of superficial hemangioma blood vessels

  • Vascular Malformations (VM): Present at birth, grow with child, do not involute (e.g., Port-wine stain).

Infantile Hemangiomas & Vascular Malformations - Berry Management

  • Observation: Majority of uncomplicated IH; await spontaneous involution.
  • Medical Therapy:
    • Oral Propranolol: First-line for high-risk/complicated IH (e.g., periocular, airway, large facial, ulcerated). Dose: 2-3 mg/kg/day. Monitor for hypoglycemia, bradycardia.
    • Topical Timolol: Small, thin, superficial lesions.
    • Systemic Corticosteroids (Prednisolone 2-3 mg/kg/day): Second-line if propranolol fails/contraindicated.
  • Interventional:
    • Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL): Ulceration, residual telangiectasias.
    • Surgery: Residual deformity, urgent complications unresponsive to medical therapy.

⭐ Propranolol is the first-line therapy for problematic infantile hemangiomas, significantly reducing the need for corticosteroids or surgery.

Infantile Hemangiomas & Vascular Malformations - Malformation Map

  • Congenital lesions; present at birth (may be subtle initially).
  • Grow proportionally with child; persist throughout life (no involution).
  • Classification (ISSVA based on flow/vessel):
    • Low-Flow:
      • Capillary (CM): e.g., Port-Wine Stain (PWS).
      • Venous (VM): Soft, compressible, blue hue.
      • Lymphatic (LM): e.g., Macrocystic (cystic hygroma).
    • High-Flow:
      • Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM): Often with thrill/bruit.
      • Arteriovenous Fistulas (AVF).
    • Combined-Complex: e.g., Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. Types of vascular malformations

⭐ Sturge-Weber Syndrome: Facial PWS (Nevus Flammeus, typically V1 dermatome) + ipsilateral leptomeningeal angiomatosis + glaucoma.

Infantile Hemangiomas & Vascular Malformations - Syndromic Spots

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High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are GLUT1 positive, show rapid postnatal proliferation then involution.
  • Propranolol is the first-line treatment for complicated IH.
  • Vascular malformations (VM) are GLUT1 negative, present at birth, and grow proportionally with the child.
  • Port-wine stains (PWS), a capillary malformation; consider Sturge-Weber syndrome if in V1 distribution.
  • Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon: Severe thrombocytopenia with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma/tufted angioma, not IH.
  • PHACES syndrome: Large facial hemangiomas with Posterior fossa, Arterial, Cardiac, Eye, Sternal defects.

Practice Questions: Infantile Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations

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A 7-year old boy presents with a right-sided hemangioma and left-sided focal seizures. The most likely diagnosis is:

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Flashcards: Infantile Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations

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Collodion babies can later develop _____, where membrane shedding is followed by development of brown scales which affect bathing suit areas

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Collodion babies can later develop _____, where membrane shedding is followed by development of brown scales which affect bathing suit areas

bathing suit ichthyosis

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