| Epidemiology "…it is a wonder, not that vascular abnormalities occur, Hemangiomas are the most common tumor of infancy. Their prevalence has been estimated at 1-3% of all neonates.2,3 By the age of one year estimates are that up to 10% of children are affected.4,5 There is an increased incidence of hemangiomas in females and in premature infants weighing less than 1500 grams.6-8 Over half of all hemangiomas occur in the cervicofacial region.9,10 The risk of a hemangioma is 10 times higher in the children of women who undergo chorionic-villous sampling.11 Although hemangiomas are not generally considered familial, one group of investigators obtained a family history in 10% of patients.12 Another group has identified a familial occurrence of hemangiomas in six kindred.13 The familial hemangiomas were transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion with moderate to high penetrance. |