[Systemic therapy of hemangioma]

For life-threatening hemangiomas where surgical or laser techniques are not feasible, systemic therapy with cortisone or interferon represents the therapy of choice. With response rates of 80-90%, both drugs are equally effective. Both treatments, however, might be associated with severe side-effects. Among these the risk of interferon-induced neurotoxicity has to be given special mention. Thus, the indication for systemic therapy of hemangiomas has to be made carefully, weighing up risk and benefit.