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Gastrointestinal Hemangiomas in Infancy

November 2, 2015 7:00 am

A brief study (IW Soukoulis et al. JPGN 2015; 61: 415-20) makes several useful points about gastrointestinal infantile hemangiomas. This study retrospectively analyzed 16 children (14 less than 1 yr) and described the presentation and management of gastrointestinal hemangiomas.

Key points:

Most were female (14/16)
Melana, hematochezia and anemia were typical presentations, usually within the first 4 months of life
9/16 also ahd some cutaneous hemangiomas. These lesions were located predominantly in the midgut in the distribution of the SMA. Thus, endoscopy (EGD/colonoscopy) is mainly to exclude other etiologies.
Imaging usually will detect these lesions (High-resolution Ultrasound, CT, or MRI)
1st line treatment: Propranolol and/or corticosteroids

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