Corticosteroids in the management of adnexal hemangiomas in infancy and childhood.

Adnexal hemangiomas are common in infancy and childhood. They can be interesting to the ophthalmologist for two reasons: cosmetic and functional (the second, the more important). By their natural history, they can produce serious visual consequences by producing refractive or stimulus-deprivation amblyopia. The management of adnexal hemangiomas is a challenge. The accepted method is most instances is corticosteroid therapy. This is administered either by local, intralesional, or systemic routes; the first is preferred. Steroid therapy can cause systemic and local side effects. Furthermore, a rebound effect can occur with this type of therapy. We present the cases of 12 patients with adnexal hemangiomas treated with steroids. These patients are reviewed, with emphasis on their responses and the complications of steroid therapy.