Histochemical study on hemangiomas in childhood.

The study was carried out on a material obtained by a biopsy from 18 children having different types of hemangiomas (capillary, cavernous and combined). Histochemical reactions were applied for the following enzymes: Succenatedehydrogenase (SDH), lactatdehydrogenase (LDH), cytochromoxidase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and paraspecific esterases. Differently reduced activity of the succenatedehydrogenase and the cytochromoxidase in the endothelial cells and the pericytes was established. A reduced enzyme activity was observed also in a large part of the cases of acid phosphatase. The activity of the alkaline phosphatase and paraspecific esterases was greatly increased. Based on their observations the authors relate the hemangiomas to the tumour formations with a good prognosis.