CEREBRAL VASCULOPATHY AND NEUROLOGIC SEQUELAE IN INFANTS WITH CERVICOFACIAL HEMANGIOMA - REPORT OF 8 PATIENTS

PURPOSE: To determine the association of cerebral arterial anomalies a nd progressive cerebral arterial occlusive disease in infants with fac ial hemangiomas.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cases of eight infants (sev en girls and one boy) with the diagnosis of cervicofacial hemangioma a nd intracranial arterial anomalies were reviewed retrospectively. Find ings from clinical and imaging examination - including cranial compute d tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and angiography, and catheter angiography - were evaluated. Serial imaging findings were studied to document progressive intracranial vascular changes. RESULTS: Five pat ients had additional associated congenital anomalies. Seven were treat ed with corticosteroid, interferon alfa-2a, or both. Progressive cereb rovascular occlusive changes were documented in four of the seven pati ents with serial imaging findings. Four other patients (all treated ph armacologically) had MR imaging documentation of cerebral infarction, and all had consistent, acquired neurologic symptoms. CONCLUSION: Intr acranial arterial anomalies can coexist with cervicofacial hemangioma. Aneurysmal and occlusive changes are potentially progressive and can result in cerebral infarction. A causative association between occlusi ve cerebrovascular disease and pharmacologic treatment has not been ex cluded.