title: Simple and easy surgical technique for infantile hemangiomas: intralesional excision and primary closure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a benign vascular tumor that gradually shrinks over several years. Involuting or involuted IHs usually retain their shape, however, and result in redundant skin or conspicuous scarring due to ulceration in the proliferating phase. We present a case series of 12 patients who underwent intralesional excision and primary closure for treatment of involuting or involuted IH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients (5 boys, 7 girls) underwent our treatment method for involuting or involuted IH. A blinded assessor evaluated clinical result of each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgical results were excellent in 4 patients, good in 6, and fair in 2. A small dog ear was prominent in 1 patient; nevertheless, all parents were satisfied with the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intralesional excision and primary closure for treatment of involuting or involuted IH is an easy and simple procedure that does not result in dog-ear formation or elongated residual scarring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Steel Memorial Hirohata Hospital, Himeji.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Himeji Medical Center, Himeji, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishinagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ejiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe.
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terashi
keywords: dog ear; infantile hemangioma; intralesional excision; primary closure; scar