Treatment of severe cervicofacial hemangioma with interferon alpha-2b

Indications for active treatment of hemangiomas are those lesions which, by virtue of their size and site, compromise vital structures. The treatment of choice is oral or intravenous corticosteroids, but interferon alpha may represent alternative therapy. A 15-day-old girl was admitted for congenital hypothyroidism. She had a large cervicofacial hemangioma extending to periorbital and laryngeal areas. The patient was given systemic prednisone (2 mg/kg/day) and L-thyroxin without success. An episode of acute respiratory distress a few weeks later required tracheostomy while prednisone dosage was increased to 4 mg/kg/day. This drug was not tolerated and the hemangioma was treated by particle embolization that was followed by a partial decrease in the volume of the hemangioma. A second episode of cardiorespiratory distress at 7 1/2 months of age required interferon alpha, 3 million units/m2/day, that was progressively effective. After 11 months of treatment, the hemangioma disappeared, without relapse 6 months later. Interferon alpha is an interesting alternative therapy of infantile hemangiomas when they are resistant to steroid treatment.