title: Relationship of infantile periocular hemangioma depth to growth and regression pattern.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most infantile periocular hemangiomas undergo rapid growth in the first year of life, followed by gradual resolution over years. Treatment is indicated if vision is compromised and is usually continued through the growth phase. The objective of this study was to determine which clinical characteristics might aid in the prediction of growth and/or regression patterns of periocular hemangiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of medical records and photographs of children with periocular hemangiomas presenting to a UK pediatric eye unit over a 7-year period. Age at presentation, growth pattern, size, location, amblyopia, and refractive status were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two infants with periocular hemangiomas were evaluated between 2000 and 2007, with a mean follow-up of 24 months (range, 6 months to 5 years). One-third (n=14, 33%) of the hemangiomas were superficial (strawberry nevi); one-third were subcutaneous (n=13, 31%), and the remainder were mixed (n=8, 19%) and orbital (n=7, 17%). There was a marked difference between the growth patterns of superficial (strawberry nevi) and deeper hemangiomas (orbital and subcutaneous), with a more prolonged period of growth noted in the deeper hemangiomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periocular hemangiomas with a deep component tend to have a later onset and prolonged period of growth compared to strawberry nevi. Clinically evident depth of the hemangioma appears to be a valuable predictor of rapidity of resolution. This finding may be useful in assessing prognosis and planning treatment of infantile periocular hemangiomas.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Children's Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tambe
authors.forename: Vineeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Munshi
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dewsbery
authors.forename: John Ross
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Willshaw
authors.forename: Manoj V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Parulekar
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*