Infantile haemangioma and β-blockers in otolaryngology

Infantile haemangioma (IH) is the most common tumour during early childhood. Although these benign lesions resolve spontaneously, up until recently laryngotracheal sites of IH required invasive management. The dramatic efficacy of β-blockers on IH has radically changed the prognosis. Surgery is now no longer indicated as first-line therapy, but should only be performed for difficult, refractory cases, or in the presence of absolute contraindications to β-blockers. Long-term steroid therapy is also no longer indicated. Propranolol can be used as first-line, single-agent therapy.