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Vascular hamartomas in childhood
1Department of Paediatric Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Birmingham.
Vascular hamartomas in childhood may occur in isolation, or in a more generalised form with both cutaneous and visceral involvement. Many of these require no active intervention, other than parental reassurance. However, isolated lesions around the eye may seriously compromise developing vision, and in children with larger haemangiomas or diffuse haemangiomatosis, life-threatening complications may arise. In both of these situations, therefore, vigorous treatment is necessary to avoid serious long term sequelae. We describe our experience in 24 children presenting with isolated vascular hamartomas, and a further 2 children with more generalised involvement, to evaluate the important complications, and the effectiveness of our therapy.
Vascular hamartomas in childhood may occur in isolation, or in a more generalised form with both cutaneous and visceral involvement. Many of these require no active intervention, other than parental reassurance. However, isolated lesions around the eye may seriously compromise developing vision, and in children with larger haemangiomas or diffuse haemangiomatosis, life-threatening complications may arise. In both of these situations, therefore, vigorous treatment is necessary to avoid serious long term sequelae. We describe our experience in 24 children presenting with isolated vascular hamartomas, and a further 2 children with more generalised involvement, to evaluate the important complications, and the effectiveness of our therapy.