A deep-tissue hemangioma presenting as a rapidly progressive expanding mass and thrombocytopenia in an infant.

OBJECTIVE

We present a case of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome with discussion of hemangiomas of childhood relevant to the emergency physician.

DESIGN

This is a case report.

SETTING

The case is described in the setting of a tertiary care hospital level I pediatric emergency department.

PATIENTS

A single case is discussed.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient's condition was diagnosed and referred to the appropriate hematology service. Methylprednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) therapy was instituted.

CONCLUSIONS

Children may present to the emergency department with a mass requiring diagnosis. The emergency physician must efficiently and economically identify the cause and complications from a variety of etiologies. Hemangiomas with complicating thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolysis are rare and must be correctly identified. The emergency physician should occasionally review such unusual diagnoses to maintain their differential diagnosis skills.