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Infantile Haemangioma in the Romanian Paediatric Population-Characteristics and Therapeutic Approaches
Anca-Maria Raicu1,2, George-Florin Danila2, Ionut Fernando Secheli2
1Department of Public Health and Management, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050463 Bucharest, Romania.
Insights
Infantile haemangioma (IH), a common childhood tumor, presents diverse characteristics in Romanian children. Oral propranolol proved effective in most cases, with a low relapse rate, highlighting the need for specialized care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Dermatology
- Vascular Anomalies
Background:
- Infantile haemangioma (IH) is the most frequent benign tumor in childhood, affecting 4-12% of infants.
- Understanding IH characteristics and treatment outcomes is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize infantile haemangioma in Romanian children under two years old.
- To evaluate treatment modalities, complications, and therapeutic responses for IH.
- To identify key demographic and clinical features of IH in the study population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective case series study conducted over two years (August 2019 - August 2021).
- Involved 117 pediatric patients diagnosed with IH at a specialized children's hospital in Bucharest, Romania.
- Utilized five treatment approaches: oral propranolol, topical timolol, surgery, topical steroids, and watchful waiting.
Main Results:
- Female patients constituted 68.4% of the cohort, with 58% having phototype I.
- Head and neck locations were most common (53%), and 10% experienced complications like bleeding.
- Oral propranolol was the primary treatment (51%), with an overall 86% requiring single-modality therapy and a low 4% relapse rate.
Conclusions:
- Infantile haemangioma exhibits specific characteristics in Romanian children, with a predilection for females and head/neck locations.
- Oral propranolol is a highly effective treatment for IH, demonstrating a low relapse rate.
- Referral to specialized medical services is recommended for all children diagnosed with vascular anomalies like IH.
Abstract:
Infantile haemangioma (IH) is the most common benign tumour in childhood, with an incidence of 4% to 12%. Aim: to describe the characteristics of infantile haemangioma in a sample of Romanian children <2 years old at diagnosis, types of treatment applied, recorded complications and the response to the therapeutic approach. A two-year prospective case series study (August 2019 to August 2021) was carried out. Sample: 117 patients <24 months of age diagnosed with IH at the Emergency Hospital for Children "Marie Sklodowska Curie", in Bucharest, Romania. Five therapeutic approaches were used: oral treatment with propranolol, local treatment with timolol, surgical treatment, topical treatment with steroids and no treatment ("wait and see"). Recorded factors mentioned in the literature were also present in this study population: female patients-68.4%; phototype I-58%. In 53% of cases, IHs had a head and neck location and 10% developed local complications (traumatic bleeding). The majority of patients (86%) required one type of therapy: oral propranolol (51%). A low relapse rate was recorded (4%). We consider that any child with a vascular anomaly should be referred to a highly specialised medical service for therapeutic approach.
