Successful management of an infant with a giant hemangioma of the retroperitoneum and Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome with α-interferon*

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Giant vascular neoplasms in neonates generally require aggressive medical or surgical therapy for treatment of complications. Steroids, chemotherapy, embolization, radiation, and surgery have all been used with short-term beneficial and sometimes unknown long-term side effects. A new modality of treatment, α-interferon, has recently been described. The majority of hemangiomas in children involtute by 8 years of age. Occasionally, hemangiomas can endanger vital structures and are associated with a consumption coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia (Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome). These hemangiomas occasionally do not respond to steroids, radiation therapy, cytotoxic drugs, or embolization. The mortality rates approach 50% in nonresponders. Alphainterferon has been used in these children with life-threatening complications of hemangiomas with relief of symptoms. This case illustrates the potential use of α-interferon in the management of giant hemangiomas in children. This emerging form of biological therapy avoids the risks of radiation therapy, embolization, and surgery with only minimal side effects.

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*

Presented at the 1992 Annual Meeting of the Section on Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics, San Francisco, California, October 9–11, 1992.

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From the Departments of Surgery, Pediatrics, and Radiology, Children's Medical Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA.

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