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Intralesional excision, primary closure a simple technique to address infantile hemangioma

Researchers found intralesional excision and primary closure to be a simple, easy procedure for the treatment of involuting or involuted infantile hemangioma that offered consistent results.

Between 2004 and 2012, 12 patients underwent surgical resection for involuting or involuted infantile hemangioma (IH) at a plastic surgery center in Japan. Patients’ mean age at surgery was 38.6 months, and mean follow-up was 12.3 months after the final operation.

Hemangiomas were located in the head and neck region in six patients, on the trunk in three patients and on the extremities in three patients. In all of the cases, parents sought treatment for aesthetic improvement.

Patients’ clinical results were evaluated by three blinded assessors using photographs and classified as excellent, little or invisible scarring without deformity; good, visible scarring without deformity; fair, visible scarring with minor deformity; and poor, conspicuous scarring or deformity.

At follow-up, results were considered excellent in four patients, good in six patients and fair in two patients, according to the researchers. Although a small dog ear occurred in one patient, all parents were satisfied with the results.

The researchers reported their method yielded a residual scar that was shorter than the original lesions and recommended use of this method for involuting or involuted IH but not for proliferating IH. – by Abigail Sutton

Disclosures: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.