title: Role of intralesional bleomycin in the treatment of complicated hemangiomas: prospective clinical study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. omidvari@sums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Shapour
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omidvari
authors.forename: Nosrat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nezakatgoo
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmadloo
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadianpanah
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosalaei
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin