Corticosteroid management of airway hemangiomas: long-term follow-up

Nine children with airway obstructing hemangiomas were managed with corticosteroid therapy for durations of 6 weeks to 17 months. One patient required a tracheotomy. Steroid therapy improved the airways of the other 8 patients. Therapy was continued for 8 months or longer in 6 patients, none of whom developed life-threatening infections. Examinations 1 1/2 to 7 1/2 years after therapy revealed all of the patients to be within normal range for height and weight, but 3 of the 6 patients treated for 8 months or longer were in the lower range of normal. Steroid therapy is an effective method of protecting the airway in some patients with hemangiomas. Its disadvantage is that therapy may be necessary for several months. The risk of infections and growth suppression is minimized by using small maintenance dosage and alternate day therapy.