Successful treatment of Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon with intralesional corticosteroid injections: a case series

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is a rare and life-threatening disease of vascular tumor combined with severe consumptive coagulopathy. Currently, there is no established effective treatment of KMP. In this case series, from 2006 to 2008, we treated 6 pediatric patients with newly diagnosed KMP using intralesional corticosteroid injections. The severity and progression of the disease were closely monitored with clinical photographs, blood sampling, and tissue biopsies. The 6 pediatric patients (5 females and 1 male) showed tumor regression after treatments. All coagulopathies were corrected. The average duration of treatment was 3.8 months. Complete tumor regression was observed at approximately 3 years. Treatment was complicated in 1 patient with transient growth retardation. Treatment based on intralesional corticosteroid injections is effective for pediatric patients with KMP. Treatment-associated complications seemed to be reversible and acceptable by severity level.