Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 cases

ObjectivesThis study aims to explore the clinical appearances of infantile subglottic hemangioma (SGH) and the diagnostic value of flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) combined with contrast-enhanced CT (CECT).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 25 children diagnosed with SGH from Janua...

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Main Authors: Xiaoben Liang, Rong Xu, Hongming Xu, Jiarui Chen, Xiaoyan Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1499656/full
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author Xiaoben Liang
Rong Xu
Hongming Xu
Jiarui Chen
Xiaoyan Li
author_facet Xiaoben Liang
Rong Xu
Hongming Xu
Jiarui Chen
Xiaoyan Li
author_sort Xiaoben Liang
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesThis study aims to explore the clinical appearances of infantile subglottic hemangioma (SGH) and the diagnostic value of flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) combined with contrast-enhanced CT (CECT).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 25 children diagnosed with SGH from January 2012 to January 2022.ResultsFFL showed a smooth, rounded, vascular-appearing submucosal lesion in the subglottic wall, while CECT revealed an enhancing lesion, obscuring the airway lumen. Among the 25 cases (8 males and 17 females; 10 left-sided, 11 right-sided, and 4 middle), the clinical appearances contained stridor (25), respiratory distress (13), three-concave sign (10), barking cough (9), feeding difficulty (8), cyanosis (2), and hoarseness (2). SGH with cutaneous hemangiomas accounted for 24% (6/25). The age at presentation ranged from 1 day to 8 months (median, 33 days), including 96% (24/25) of cases aged <6 months. Moreover, 92% (23/25) of cases had a history of misdiagnosis, 22 respiratory infections, 5 laryngomalacia, 1 laryngeal cyst, and 1 asthma, individually or in combination. Except for one case that died of polygenic abnormality and another case lost to follow-up, the remaining 23 cases were cured after oral propranolol.ConclusionsFor an infant with respiratory symptoms, who has repeated condition or poor effect after routine treatment, SGH should be considered, especially in infants under 6 months old. FFL combined with CECT is recommended to make a definite diagnosis of SGH.
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spelling doaj-art-e10033adffe844b787ef6a74486176e52025-08-20T03:05:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-05-011310.3389/fped.2025.14996561499656Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 casesXiaoben Liang0Rong Xu1Hongming Xu2Jiarui Chen3Xiaoyan Li4Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaObjectivesThis study aims to explore the clinical appearances of infantile subglottic hemangioma (SGH) and the diagnostic value of flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) combined with contrast-enhanced CT (CECT).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 25 children diagnosed with SGH from January 2012 to January 2022.ResultsFFL showed a smooth, rounded, vascular-appearing submucosal lesion in the subglottic wall, while CECT revealed an enhancing lesion, obscuring the airway lumen. Among the 25 cases (8 males and 17 females; 10 left-sided, 11 right-sided, and 4 middle), the clinical appearances contained stridor (25), respiratory distress (13), three-concave sign (10), barking cough (9), feeding difficulty (8), cyanosis (2), and hoarseness (2). SGH with cutaneous hemangiomas accounted for 24% (6/25). The age at presentation ranged from 1 day to 8 months (median, 33 days), including 96% (24/25) of cases aged <6 months. Moreover, 92% (23/25) of cases had a history of misdiagnosis, 22 respiratory infections, 5 laryngomalacia, 1 laryngeal cyst, and 1 asthma, individually or in combination. Except for one case that died of polygenic abnormality and another case lost to follow-up, the remaining 23 cases were cured after oral propranolol.ConclusionsFor an infant with respiratory symptoms, who has repeated condition or poor effect after routine treatment, SGH should be considered, especially in infants under 6 months old. FFL combined with CECT is recommended to make a definite diagnosis of SGH.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1499656/fullsubglottic hemangiomaflexible fiberoptic laryngoscopycontrast-enhanced computed tomographyinfantdiagnosis
spellingShingle Xiaoben Liang
Rong Xu
Hongming Xu
Jiarui Chen
Xiaoyan Li
Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 cases
Frontiers in Pediatrics
subglottic hemangioma
flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy
contrast-enhanced computed tomography
infant
diagnosis
title Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 cases
title_full Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 cases
title_fullStr Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 cases
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 cases
title_short Diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma: a 10-year experience of 25 cases
title_sort diagnosis of infantile subglottic hemangioma a 10 year experience of 25 cases
topic subglottic hemangioma
flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy
contrast-enhanced computed tomography
infant
diagnosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1499656/full
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