Ultrasound in assessing the efficacy of propranolol therapy for infantile hemangiomas

This study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of propranolol treatment in infantile hemangiomas (IHs) by ultrasound. Thirty-one patients with IHs were administered propranolol and were assessed by ultrasound before treatment, 3 mo after treatment and at the end of treatment. Longitudinal and transverse diameters, as well as thickness of hemangiomas measured by clinical observation differed significantly (p < 0.05) from measurements obtained by ultrasound. Ultrasound also revealed that longitudinal and transverse diameters, thickness, vascular density, blood flow velocity (arterial and venous) and arterial peak systolic blood flow velocity of hemangiomas were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after treatment compared with before treatment. The resistive index and systolic/diastolic blood flow velocity in IHs were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after treatment than before treatment. In conclusion, ultrasound can evaluate the efficacy of propranolol at the termination of therapy.