Professional paper
Multifocal Infantile Hemangioma – Presentation of 4 Cases and Review of the Selected Literature
Aleksandra Matić
orcid.org/0000-0002-5118-1580
; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia; 2 Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Milan Matić
; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Sonja Prćić
orcid.org/0000-0002-4086-9996
; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia; 2 Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Anica Radulović
; Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Miloš Pajić
; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Milica Žeravica
; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
Background: Multifocal infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are focal cutaneous lesions
affecting more than 1 anatomic site. The multifocal distribution pattern is the rar-
est form of IH manifestation, accounting for only 3-4% of all affected infants. This
type of cutaneous IHs may be a marker for extracutaneous disease, with the liver
being the most frequently affected organ.
Methods: We investigated the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of a
small case series of infants with multifocal IHs presenting with different clinical
patterns, all diagnosed and treated in a regional tertiary-care pediatric clinic.
Results: Four infants with multifocal IHs were included in the analysis. There were
3 girls and 1 boy. Three out of 4 infants were prematurely born (2 of them very
preterm), while only 1 was full-term. Clinical patterns in all cases were quite dif-
ferent, but more than 20 cutaneous IHs were present in each of the patients. Two
infants had multifocal liver hemangioma, but without complications. In 3 out of 4
patients, systemic propranolol therapy was introduced, with excellent response in
two cases (both with liver involvement).
Conclusion: With the increase in the number of cutaneous IHs, the probability
of internal organ involvement, most often the liver, also increases. Evaluation for
extracutaneous lesions is indicated in infants with 5 or more cutaneous IHs. Treat-
ment of infants with multifocal IHs should be individualized and consider all rel-
evant risk factors, including prematurity.
Keywords
hemangioma; infant; premature; skin; liver; propranolol
Hrčak ID:
316455
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2023.
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