Infantile Hemangioma of the Posterior Fossa in a Newborn: Early Management and Long-Term Follow-up

Abstract

A 21-day-old male infant was admitted with signs of intracranial hypertension. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a voluminous mass in the posterior fossa with an intense peripheral enhancement on T1 images with gadolinium. The child was treated secondarily by surgical decompression of the posterior fossa and the lesion was biopsied. The pathological findings indicated infantile hemangioma. Treatment with oral prednisolone was initiated at 3 months, given the lack of tumor involution. Six months after corticotherapy was stopped, repeated MRIs indicated a significant reduction in tumor size and then complete disappearance. Psychometric evaluation was performed at the age of 15 years, showing heterogeneous cognitive disabilities, with verbal abilities superior to nonverbal abilities and delayed motor development. Neurological examination was normal with no focal deficit. To our knowledge, this is the first published case reporting the long-term evolution of a patient with neonatal intracerebral hemangioma. We conclude that psychometric evaluations should be part of the long-term follow-up of children who have had an intracranial capillary hemangioma.

Keywords

capillary hemangioma - infantile hemangioma - posterior fossa - infant - corticosteroids - follow-up

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