Clinical Research. Early surgical intervention as definitive treatment for ocular adnexal capillary haemangioma

Advantages of Early Surgical Management of Periorbital Infantile Hemangiomas

Background: Early evaluation and treatment of periorbital infantile hemangiomas (POIH) were associated with lower rates of ophthalmological complications. Objective: To evaluate age and characteristics associated with improved anisometropic astigmatism (anisoastigmatism) and eye symmetry measured by diopters and a 5-point scale, respectively, in patients with POIH treated with surgical excision. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on patients with POIH. Patient characteristics and eye symmetry were analyzed between patients with resolved and unresolved anisoastigmatism after surgery. Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square tests, and linear regression models. Results: In total, 54 patients were included (male: 20, female: 34). Upper medial eyelid was the most commonly affected site (resolved: 45%, unresolved: 43%), followed by upper lateral and upper central. Fifty-six percent (31/55) had postoperative resolution of anisoastigmatism, whereas 44% (24/55) did not. Earlier surgical evaluation (median: 4.5 vs. 6.0 months, p = 0.047) and excision (median: 5.0 vs. 12.0 months, p = 0.005) were associated with reversible anisoastigmatism. Good and suboptimal eye symmetry were not associated with earlier surgical excision (median: 6 vs. 6.5 months, p = 0.87). Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 12 years. Conclusion: Earlier surgical excision was associated with reversing anisoastigmatism but was not significant for improving eye symmetry.

Current treatment and management of infantile hemangiomas

Infantile hemangiomas, otherwise known as infantile capillary hemangiomas, strawberry hemangiomas, or strawberry nevi, are nonmalignant vascular tumors that commonly affect children. The natural disease course typically involves growth for up to a year, followed by regression without treatment over a period of years with no cosmetic or functional sequelae. Less commonly, however, infantile hemangiomas can become a threat to vision or even life depending on location and size of the lesion. In addition, infantile hemangiomas, particularly those involving the face, may be disfiguring and result in lifelong sequelae. β-blockers have become a mainstay of therapy given their relatively low-risk profile and efficacy. Other treatment modalities previously described in the literature include corticosteroids (both intralesional and systemic), imiquimod, vincristine, bleomycin A5, and interferon α. More recently, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors such as captopril have been used. Laser therapy and, less commonly, surgical excision are also available treatment options. We review current recommended management and treatment of capillary hemangiomas and discuss the benefits and risks of all previously reported treatment modalities.

Vascular Anomalies of the Orbit--A Reappraisal

The recent International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) classification of vascular anomalies can be applied to orbital lesions, dividing them into vascular tumors and vascular malformations. Orbital cavernous hemangiomas are probably best considered cavernous venous malformations under this classification. Management of symptomatic lesions can be with surgical excision or stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy in selected cases. Beta-blockers including propranolol and topical timolol maleate represent first-line therapy for infantile hemangiomas, although surgery has a role in selected cases. Orbital venous-lymphatic malformations are problematic but with improved imaging, neuroradiological intervention, and a multidisciplinary approach to management, outcomes are improving.

The Surgical Management of Infantile Hemangiomas

The surgical management of facial infantile hemangiomas presents a unique challenge. The aim of the surgeon should be to remove the hemangioma and to restore normal facial features. Each of the facial zones has its own special features and challenges. The surgeon should remember that the child started out with normal anatomy and that as the hemangioma proliferated, it displaced and thinned these normal structures and in many cases, expanded adjacent tissue. Hemangiomas do not as a rule, invade adjacent tissues as they proliferate. These facts will help in planning the various surgical approaches.

Infantile hemangioma: treatment with surgery or steroids

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) often pose a significant risk to visual development. The lesions interfere with visual development by causing deprivation, astigmatism, or strabismus. Propranolol has been suggested as the new standard of care for treatment of IH. Alternative treatments such as intralesional steroids or surgery may need to be considered as equal or better treatments in some cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential risks and benefits of the various modalities for periocular IH.

METHOD

A literature search was conducted for IH and propranolol, steroids, and surgery. The pertinent published literature on surgical resection of IH were reviewed and summarized. A retrospective analysis was also performed of the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital (VCH) surgical case series of twelve children who underwent surgical resection of a sight threatening IH.

RESULTS

Seven articles reported twenty or more patients treated with propranolol for IH. Many of these patients only had a partial response to propranolol in spite of months of treatment. In addition to the impact on IH, propranolol has been demonstrated to block neural pathways critical for learning and memory. Twelve children underwent surgical resection of a visual threatening IH at VCH. Two of these children had failed treatment with oral propranolol. The average time of surgery was 80 minutes. All twelve children had immediate resolution of the visual compromise.

CONCLUSION

Early surgical intervention can successfully and quickly result in excellent visual and anatomic outcomes. Propranolol may have unrecognized neurocognitive impact and should be reserved for those lesions unamenable to surgical or local steroid injection.

Parenteral corticosteroids followed by early surgical resection of large amblyogenic eyelid hemangiomas in infants

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results and complications of early surgical resection of large amblyogenic subdermal eyelid hemangiomas in infants after prior short-term parenteral administration of corticosteroids.

Methods

Sixteen infants were given dexamethasone 2 mg/kg/day in two divided doses for three consecutive days prior to scheduled surgical excision of large eyelid hemangiomas. The lesions were accessed via an upper eyelid crease, subeyebrow incision, or a lower eyelid subciliary incision.

Results

In all cases, surgical excision of the entire lesion was possible with no significant intraoperative or postoperative complications. The levator muscle/aponeurosis complex was involved in 31.25% of cases and was managed by reinsertion or repositioning without resection. A satisfactory lid position and contour with immediate clearing of the visual axis was achieved in all but one case (93.8%).

Conclusion

Parenteral corticosteroids helped in reducing volume and blood flow from the hemangiomas, allowing for very early total excision of large subdermal infantile hemangiomas without significant intraoperative hemorrhage. This resulted in immediate elimination of any reason for occlusion amblyopia. Long-term follow-up of visual development in these patients would help to demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy compared with more conservative measures.

Current concepts in the management of periocular infantile (capillary) hemangioma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review and evaluate the medical literature on new treatments for periocular infantile (capillary) hemangioma. Recent studies have shown a promising new therapy for infantile hemangioma using nonselective β-blockers, including oral propranolol and topical timolol.

RECENT FINDINGS

Conventional treatments for infantile hemangioma include the use of corticosteroids, laser, surgery, and immunomodulator therapy. Recently, systemic and topical β-blockers have been used to successfully treat infantile hemangioma. The drugs' mechanism of action remains uncertain, but plausible theories include vasoconstriction, modulation of pro-survival signal transduction pathways, and endothelial cell apoptosis. Whereas no life-threatening adverse events from β-blocker treatment have been described, there have been reports of bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm, hypoglycemia, and electrolyte disturbances resulting from systemic use of propranolol to treat infantile hemangioma. Sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances have also been frequently reported. Topical timolol application for localized, superficial tumors may confer similar efficacy as oral propranolol while reducing systemic effects.

SUMMARY

Despite the recent explosion of interest surrounding this novel treatment, current treatment and protocol-monitoring recommendations are based largely on the experience of individual centers. Several randomized controlled studies are currently underway, the results of which will guide future standard-of-care treatment for infantile hemangioma.

New developments in the management of periocular capillary hemangioma in children

The authors describe the theories of pathogenesis for capillary hemangioma and discuss the benefits and side effects of current treatment options, such as systemic and intralesional corticosteroids, laser therapy, and surgical excision. They also evaluate the recent systemic and topical applications of beta-blockers to treat infantile hemangioma. Although no major adverse events from beta-blocker treatment have been reported, the incidence of potential side effects such as bronchospasm, hypoglycemia, heart block, bradycardia, and congestive heart failure is unknown due to the novelty of the treatment. It has been postulated that topical application for localized superficial tumor may reduce systemic effects. Further research is necessary to compare the effectiveness of different treatments and to find the optimal dosing and delivery methods to minimize adverse effects in the treatment of this disorder.

Visual outcomes of treated periocular capillary haemangiomas in childhood: a 10-year review

PURPOSE

To report our experiences of treating periocular capillary haemangioma with particular emphasis on visual outcomes.

METHODS

Patients who underwent treatment for periocular capillary haemangioma were identified, and a chart review was performed.

RESULTS

There were seventeen patients in the study. The main indications for treatment were increased size of lesion with threat of amblyopia and partial or full pupil occlusion. Seven patients required more than one type of treatment. Fourteen patients had intralesional steroid treatment and six patients had oral steroids. Intralesional steroids gave variable results with minimal side-effects, oral steroids were very effective but 4 out of 6 patients developed side-effects. The average pretreatment astigmatism was 2.4D and post treatment this had reduced to 1.3D. Final visual outcomes were available for 15 patients, 13 had visual acuity of 6/7.5 or better, two were amblyopic with vision of 6/9-2 and 6/18.

CONCLUSION

In this study, intralesional steroids were used for localized lesions and oral steroids for diffuse haemangiomas with orbital involvement. Treatment especially with oral steroids was found to halt the proliferative phase and assist early haemangioma regression reducing ocular sequelae.

Epidemiology of benign eyelid lesions in patients presenting to a teaching hospital

PURPOSE

This study evaluates the relative frequency of benign eyelid lesions presented to a teaching hospital in Saudi population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Charts of patients with benign eyelid lesions were retrospectively reviewed from January 2003 to December 2008. Clinical details included demographic data, symptoms and signs, surgical findings, primary diagnosis, and indication for biopsy were analyzed in a histopathologically confirmed benign eyelid lesions. Eyelid lesions were arranged according to their order of frequencies.

RESULTS

A total of 222 biopsies were evaluated from 181 patients (male 39.2% and female 60.8%). The age of the patient at the time of biopsy ranged from 2 to 87 years old. The most common benign eyelid lesion encountered in our practice was sweat gland hidrocystoma followed by chalazion, skin tag, epidermal cyst, nevus, seborrheic keratosis, xanthelasma, and molluscum contagiosum respectively. Histopathological studies confirmed the clinical diagnosis in 95.9% (213/222) of specimens and was different from the clinical diagnosis in 4.1% (9/222) of the lesions which included seborrheic keratosis (n = 3), pilomatrixoma, steatocystoma, hemangioendothelioma, juvenile xanthogranuloma, calcinosis cutis, and syringocystadenoma papilliferum. No malignant lesion was labeled as benign.

CONCLUSION

Epidemiology of benign eyelid lesions in Saudi population is different from Far East or Western populations. Sweat gland hidrocystoma with classical clinical features and straightforward diagnosis is the most frequent lesion in our series which could be due to characteristic dry climate.

Propranolol in the management of periorbital infantile haemangioma

BACKGROUND

Infantile haemangiomas are the commonest tumours of the orbit in children. Treatment is usually expectant, unless they are visually threatening. Although steroids, other pharmacological and surgical treatment modalities have their place, there are risks involved. A previous case series reported the successful use of propranolol for infantile haemangioma. The safety and efficacy of propranolol in the treatment of periorbital haemangioma was reviewed in a serious of our patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients seen by two ophthalmologists (TJS and GAG), collecting data on colour, size of lesion, duration of treatment and side-effects of treatment. Our main outcome measures were colour and size of infantile haemangioma before and after treatment, the change in astigmatism of our patients and the incidence of complications from propranolol.

RESULTS

We reviewed 10 patients with infantile haemangioma. They were treated with propranolol oral syrup 2 mg/kg/day in divided doses for a mean duration of 32.8 (range 12-42) weeks. All our patients had a reduction in colour and size of the lesions. The mean lesion size decreased from 756.7 to 543.2 mm(2) after treatment (P = 0.075). Five patients had significant astigmatism and 60% had successful reduction of astigmatism after treatment. None of our patients suffered significant side-effects of propranolol.

CONCLUSION

Propranolol appears to be a safe and effective treatment in the management of infantile haemangioma.

Combined surgical method of orbital and periorbital hemangioma treatment in infants

PURPOSE

To analyze the results of application of combined surgical treatment in different forms of hemangioma in infants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred seventy-four children with different forms of orbital and periorbital hemangiomas aged 1-16 months (mean age 5.2 + 1.97 months) were operated on at the pediatric ophthalmology department. Fast growth of hemangioma, both superficial (intradermal) and deep (subdermal and orbital) localization, significant deformity of eyelids, with narrowing of eye fissure were the indications for surgical treatment. The combined-staged method, including cryosurgery of superficial intradermal lesions and surgical excision of subdermal and/or orbital parts of the tumor in different combinations depending on the form and depth of hemangioma spreading, was applied.

RESULTS

Usage of cryodestruction usually on the first stage of treatment allowed gentle scarring of the angiomatously changed skin areas. Surgical excision of the deep part of the tumor eliminated disfigurement and visual axis occlusion, avoiding amblyopia development. Good cosmetic and anatomic result was achieved in 90.4% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Combined surgical method of treatment of progressive capillary hemangiomas by using cryosurgery and surgical excision in infants allows the choice of optimum tactics depending on features of the course and clinical picture in each individual case and provides achievement of high cosmetic and functional result of treatment. The early beginning of treatment in cases of fast progressing of the tumor allows prevention of extensive skin affection and amblyopia development.

Surgical treatment of capillary hemangiomas causing amblyopia

BACKGROUND

Capillary hemangiomas of the eyelids and orbit can cause refractive and occlusive amblyopia. Although oral and intralesional steroid injections are the most common treatment modalities, sometimes they are not successful. There is a paucity of information in the literature on the success of eliminating amblyogenic factors by treating these lesions with surgical resection.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 10 patients in two pediatric ophthalmology practices who underwent surgical excision of a capillary hemangioma that was causing amblyopia and that had failed to regress with other treatment.

RESULTS

Two patients had surgery secondary to pupillary occlusion, which was successful in relieving occlusion. Eight patients had surgery secondary to significant astigmatism. The average preoperative astigmatic difference between the affected and unaffected eye in five of these patients undergoing surgery before the age of 21 months was 2.15 D. The average postoperative astigmatic difference was 0.1 D. The average preoperative astigmatic difference between the affected and unaffected eye in three patients undergoing surgery after 21 months of age was 1.6 D. Surgery completely failed to reduce the astigmatism in two of these patients. The third patient had a decrease of 0.75 D of cylinder but still had a difference of 1.75 D between the two eyes postoperatively. Postoperative complications in this study included wound infection in one patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical excision of capillary hemangiomas that were resistant to other modes of treatment was useful in relieving pupillary occlusion and in decreasing the amount of astigmatism if performed before the age of 21 months in our series of patients. Our cases as well as the literature suggest that surgery should be performed at 13 months or earlier to reduce the amount of astigmatism.

Orbit and eyelid hemangiomas: Is there a relationship between location and ocular problems?

PURPOSE

Infantile hemangiomas of the orbit and eyelid can cause serious ocular problems, such as astigmatism and amblyopia. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography are the best ways to establish the diagnosis and to evaluate the extent of the lesion. Our goal was to correlate the lesion location with the visual impairment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study (1992-2004) of 63 cases of orbit and eyelid hemangiomas (13 male, 50 female patients; ages: 1 day old to 3 years old). Imaging methods were magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographic-scanning and color Doppler ultrasonography. The anatomic definition was palpebral, extraconal, and extraconal with intraconal involvement. All patients had ophthalmologic evaluations.

RESULTS

The hemangiomas were palpebral (n = 32) (normal vision: 19; amblyopia and/or astigmatism: 13), extraconal, and extraconal with intraconal involvement (n = 31) (normal vision: 4; amblyopia and/or astigmatism: 27).

LIMITATIONS

This study was small; a prospective study is needed.

CONCLUSION

Orbit and eyelid hemangiomas need to be carefully evaluated by an ophthalmologist. Extraconal and intraconal hemangiomas are more frequently associated with ocular involvement. However, ocular complications can occur in palpebral lesions.