SUBGLOTTIC HEMANGIOMA - 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH THE CARBON-DIOXIDE LASER

Patients with subglottic hemangioma present with biphasic strider duri ng infancy. The natural history of this lesion is characterized by pro gressive airway obstruction during the proliferative phase of the lesi on, followed by resolution of symptoms during the subsequent involutiv e phase. Although this is a benign neoplasm, it can be associated with a fatal outcome. Treatment options have been directed at maintaining airway patency during the proliferative phase. The senior author (G.B. H.) originally described the role of the carbon dioxide laser in manag ement of these patients in 1980. Thirty-one patients were treated for subglottic hemangioma at The Children's Hospital, Boston, between 1980 and 1990. The 10-year experience of management of subglottic hemangio ma with endoscopic vaporization using the carbon dioxide laser is revi ewed to assess the efficacy of this technique.