PERIOCULAR CAPILLARY HEMANGIOMA - A REVIEW FOR PEDIATRICIANS AND FAMILY PHYSICIANS

The pediatrician or family physician is usually the first person to ex amine an infant with a periocular capillary hemangioma, The physician should know that, in addition to being cosmetically disfiguring, capil lary hemangiomas have the potential to cause serious ocular complicati ons such as amblyopia, strabismus, proptosis, and optic atrophy. Promp t evaluation and management of periocular hemangiomas are essential in order to prevent permanent visual loss. Corticosteroids have been the mainstay in the treatment of patients with large periocular hemangiom as, but other therapeutic modalities such as radiation? interferon, an d surgical excision also have been effective in selected patients. Thi s review provides pediatricians and family physicians with information on the natural history complications, and current management of perio cular hemangiomas in infants.