Hemangiomas of the head and neck in children - a guide to management.

Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of childhood occurring in the head and neck. The vast majority of these lesions are noted in the neonatal period and are a frequent cause for parental concern. Appropriate management requires familiarity with the varied types of lesions and syndromes, their natural histories, and their proven treatments. In general, treatment should remain conservative except when there is mechanical obstruction of the airway, hemorrhage, infection, tissue loss, or threatened cardiovascular decompensation. A review of the literature is presented with anatomic descriptions, classification, and discussion of treatment modalities. Special emphasis is placed on the diagnosis and treatment of the often life-threatening subglottic hemangioma.