Hemangiomas of the nose: surgical management using a modified subunit approach.
OBJECTIVE
To study a new surgical approach to pediatric nasal hemangiomas and the need for early surgical intervention. Childhood hemangiomas are most common in the head and neck area. They can result in life-altering situations by causing airway obstruction, disfigurement, ulceration, and other adverse effects.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 44 consecutive patients with hemangiomas treated in our clinic during the last 9 years. The clinical characteristics of these hemangiomas are assessed and the outcome after surgery is discussed with respect to different surgical approaches. A new modified subunit approach is introduced.


RESULTS
Based on the subunit principle, the incision line was modified to allow better access to all nasal subunits. The results using this technique were superior to the results using conventional incisions with respect to accessibility of the tumor, ability to trim excess skin after tumor removal, and aesthetic outcome. In contrast to reports in the literature, early surgical intervention is advocated as a result of this study.


CONCLUSIONS
This modified surgical technique shows superior results to the techniques used in earlier years. We strongly advocate early surgical intervention.
Waner
Milton
M
The Vascular and Birthmarks Institute of New York, Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY 10023, USA. wanerMD@chpnet.org
Kastenbaum
Julie
J
Scherer
Kathrin
K
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies