Beta Blockade as Treatment for Intracranial Infantile Hemangioma: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract Background Intracranial infantile hemangiomas are extremely rare, with only 36 patients reported in literature. Treatment for intracranial infantile hemangiomas has been mostly limited to surgery, steroids, and interferon therapy. Propranolol, which is often used to treat cutaneous infantile hemangiomas, is not currently standard treatment for intracranial infantile hemangiomas. Patient Description We present a one-month old boy with an intracranial infantile hemangioma treated with propranolol. Results This boy was being treated with oral propranolol for a supraclavicular infantile hemangioma. Subsequent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed evidence of an associated intracranial infantile hemangioma in the right cerebellopontine angle. Repeat brain MRI scan after two months of propranolol treatment demonstrated a significant reduction in the size of the intracranial infantile hemangioma. Conclusions This is the first report of successful therapy of an intracranial infantile hemangioma with propranolol.