Propranolol as a novel treatment for congenital visceral haemangioma

Haemangiomas are the most common soft tissue tumours in infancy, occurring in approximately 5-10% of 1-year-old children. Current drug-based therapeutic options for large haemangiomas include corticosteroids, α-interferon and vincristin, all of which can result in harmful side effects. Recently, promising results have been reported using the non-cardio-selective β-blocker propranolol for the treatment of cutaneous capillary haemangiomas, in which a spectacular size reduction was observed during the first 7 days of treatment. We here report a similar significant and rapid inhibitory effect of propranolol on the growth of a viscerally located congenital haemangioma.