INFANTILE SUBGLOTTIC HEMANGIOMA

Infantile subglottic hemangiomas are rare congenital lesions of the la rynx that are difficult to manage. Our experience with 10 cases was re viewed. All patients presented with strider at birth, or shortly after . The minimum follow-up was 6 months, with an average of 44 months. Th e patients were classified and treated according to the size of the he mangioma. The treatment included expectant management, systemic steroi ds, CO2 laser excision, and tracheostomies. Overall, eight patients we re cured, one developed subglottic stenosis, and one died due to unrel ated causes. We recommend that (I) patients with small lesions (< 25% of lumen) be treated expectantly, (2) patients with moderate lesions ( 25-60% of lumen) be treated with systemic steroids initially, and CO2 laser excision if steroids fail, and (3) patients with large lesions ( > 60% of lumen) be treated with tracheostomies initially, and staged C O2 laser excision.