ABSTRACT
Vascular anomalies are disorders of the endothelium that usually present during childhood. These lesions affect all parts of the vasculature: capillaries, veins, arteries, or lymphatics. Although nearly always benign, vascular anomalies may involve any location. Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a benign tumor of the endothelium that affects approximately 4"-5" of Caucasian infants. Ninety percent of IH is diagnosed by history and physical examination. If the history is unclear, confirmation of diagnosis can be made with Doppler ultrasound. Ten percent of proliferating IH cause significant deformity or complications, usually when located on the head or neck. Although 20" of infants will have more than one IH, occasionally a child will have five or more small, dome-like lesions termed hemangiomatosis. The liver is the most common extracutaneous site for IH, which may be focal, multifocal, or diffuse. Most IH are managed by observation because 90" are small, are localized, and do not involve aesthetically or functionally important areas.
