PHACE(S) SYNDROME - EARLY DIAGNOSTICS IN THE MAXILLOFACIAL AREA

Abstract

The aim: To determine the minimum criteria for early diagnosing PHACE(S) syndrome in neonates and infants with infantile hemangioma (IH) in the max¬illofacial area. Materials and methods: A total of 26 asymptomatic children from 20 days to six months of aged with IH of more than 5 cm² in the maxillofacial area were included in this study. A medical record of patients clinical examination, Holter monitoring, echocardiographic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were analysed. The IH treatment with ß-blockers was carried out. Results: IH localization was diagnosed: 62% with a lesion of a part facial segment, 23% in one segment, 15% in several segments (p=0.018), and 12% with other parts of the body lesion (p=1.000). The patent foramen ovale was diagnosed in 35% of children. Central nervous system disorders were observed in 12% over two years of age. The indices of Holter monitoring and blood glucose changed in age norm range during treatment. Cardiovascular (the aortic coarctation (p=0.003) and brain (the Dandy-Walker malformation) (p=0.031) abnormalities were determined in two cases (8%) according to the MRI only. We diagnosed PHACE(S) syndrome in both these cases of children, only aged 12 months and 2.5 years old. Conclusions: Early diagnosis of PHACE(S) syndrome is possible on a contrast-enhanced MRI performed in asymptomatic neonates and infants with the facial several segmental IH with / without ulceration (p=0.018, p=0.046; p < 0.05) for recognition of presymptomatic cardiovascular and brain abnormalities.