[What's new about infantile hemangiomas?]

Infantile hemangioma is the most common vascular tumor of childhood. This benign tumor appears during the first weeks of life, grows during the first months (endothelial proliferation) and then involutes slowly and spontaneously until resolution (possibly with sequelae) which is observed after several years. Although they are always benign tumors, infantile hemangiomas can cause complications. Regarding their location or size, infantile hemangiomas can be life or function-threatening. They are also painful when ulcerated and can cause permanent disfigurement or long-term adverse psychological consequences. Since 2008 and the serendipitous discovery of the efficacy of propranolol in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas, systemic propranolol therapy has been widely used, with a very interesting benefits/risks balance. It has progressively superseded general corticosteroid therapy. A Compassionate Use Program (CUP) for systemic propranolol therapy has been developed in France and represents nowadays the first-line use for the vast majority of French prescribers.