AnAlysis oF treAtment in pAtients With inFAntile hemAnGiomA in the depArtment oF pediAtriC otolArynGoloGy, mediCAl UniVersity oF WArsAW

Introduction. Infantile hemangiomas in the region of head and neck are relatively common. When localized in the vicinity of vital organs, airways or the eye, they may cause a serious threat to the child’s health and development, or even life. The recently discovered effectiveness of propranolol in treating infantile hemangiomas enabled the development of a fast and safe treatment methods of these lesions in laryngological patients. Aim. The purpose of this study was to analyze the patients with infantile hemangioma and their treatment with a view to the latest findings and therapeutic standards. Material and methods. Children hospitalized in the years 2013-2015 in the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Medical University of Warsaw with the diagnosis of infantile hemangioma of the head and neck were included in the study. Data concerning patients’ age and sex, location of the lesion, any additional lesions and duration of the propranolol therapy, as well as the response to treatment, were collected for the study. Results. We included 17 patients (12 girls and 5 boys) in the study. Hemangioma was located in the larynx in 8 cases, there were 3 cases of hemangioma of the tongue, 3 cases of hemangioma of the nasal cavity and 3 cases of a hemangioma in a different location: cheek, parotid gland and palate. In 3 cases, there was an additional hemangioma localized outside of the head and neck region. 11 patients were under one year old at the beginning of treatment. Treatment duration varied from 3 to 12 months. In all cases in which propranolol was introduced in infancy, we observed complete remission of the changes. Conclusions. Propranolol treatment for infantile hemangioma is a very effective and safe way for reducing the mass of the lesion. It allows to reach complete remission when administered early enough.