CAPILLARY HEMANGIOMA (INFANTILE PERIOCULAR HEMANGIOMA)

Capillary hemangiomas are the most common orbital tumors in children. They typically arise early in life, grow rapidly during a proliferativ e phase and then slowly regress in an involutional phase. The tumors m ay present as small isolated lesions of minimal clinical significance or as large disfiguring masses that can cause visual impairment and sy stemic symptomatology. Capillary hemangiomas are managed effectively b y establishing a secure diagnosis, outlining the extent of the tumor, and understanding the natural history of the lesion, as well as its re sponse to therapy. The ophthalmic and systemic manifestations of capil lary hemangiomas are discussed in detail, as are the histopathology, r adiologic findings, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic alternativ es.