Role of intralesional bleomycin in the treatment of complicated hemangiomas: prospective clinical study.
BACKGROUND
Hemangioma is the most common tumor of infancy. Although it has a basically benign nature and usually spontaneously regresses, a small percentage (5%) have complications that need treatment. Many different therapeutic modalities can be used in this tumor.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of a new method of treatment (intralesional bleomycin injection) in complicated hemangiomas.


METHODS
In the Department of Radiation Oncology at Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, from April 1992 to October 1998, 32 patients with complicated hemangioma were treated with four to six courses of direct injection of bleomycin into the lesion.


RESULTS
After a minimum follow-up of 6 years, there was 70 to 100% regression in 18 patients, 50 to 70% in 7 cases, and less than 50% reduction in 7 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Intralesional injection of bleomycin is an easy, safe, and effective therapeutic modality in complicated cutaneous hemangiomas.
Omidvari
Shapour
S
Department of Radiation Oncology, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. omidvari@sums.ac.ir
Nezakatgoo
Nosrat
N
Ahmadloo
Niloofar
N
Mohammadianpanah
Mohammad
M
Mosalaei
Ahmad
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin