Circular excision and purse-string suture technique in the management of facial hemangiomas

Hemangiomas are the most common soft tissue tumors in infancy. Treatment options for hemangiomas are numerous. The scar after lenticular excision and linear closure is often unacceptable. Localized cutaneous infantile hemangioma acts like a tissue expander. Therefore, circular excision and purse-string suture technique are applicable for hemangioma at any stage. For 2-year period we have operated 14 patients with hemangioma using circular excision and purse-string suture technique. In eight patients hemangioma was localized in the head and neck region. Two infants with large hemangioma of the face are presented in this article. One patient had hemangioma with ulceration resistant to conservative treatment. Second patient had giant hemangioma, which caused partial disturbation of visual axis. We applied circular excision and purse-string suture technique in both patients. The results were good, without any postoperative complications. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.