Has Propranolol Eradicated the Need for Surgery in the Management of Infantile Hemangioma?

Background: To assess the impact of propranolol as the first-line treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH) on the need for surgery in the management of IH.

Methods: Retrospective study of 420 patients, with IH, referred to our multidisciplinary center between January 2005 and August 2014. Clinical data including sex, age at first consultation and at treatment initiation, location, size, number, aspect, and complication of IH, as well as the type of treatment were collected.

Case report study of thalidomide therapy in 18 patients with severe arteriovenous malformations.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are fast-flow lesions that may be destructive and are the most difficult-to-treat vascular anomalies. Embolization followed by surgical resection is commonly used; however, complete resection is rarely possible and partial resection often leads to dramatic worsening. Accumulating data implicate abnormal angiogenic activity in the development of AVMs.