Lip Infantile Hemangiomas Involving the Vermillion Border Have Worse Outcomes and Prognosis to Oral Propranolol Than Lesions Confined to One Side of the Vermillion

Abstract

Purpose: Oral propranolol has been widely used for problematic infantile hemangiomas (IHs). Lip IHs present a high risk of disfigurement and associated psychosocial dysfunction and require early treatment. Lips are compound parts that consist of the upper and lower lips and include the mucosal and cutaneous lips histologically. The present retrospective study aimed to determine the response and prognosis of different subtypes of lip IHs to the use of systemic propranolol.

Patients and methods: The data from 81 patients with lip IHs treated with systemic propranolol (2 mg/kg/day) were reviewed. Localized and segmental lip IHs were evaluated separately. The outcomes and prognosis of localized hemangiomas were further evaluated stratified by different features: 1) upper and lower lip; and 2) crossing the vermilion border.

Results: The lesions involving the upper lips and those involving the lower lips had the same outcomes and prognosis. Lesions involving the vermillion border required longer treatment and had poorer outcomes and prognosis compared with lesions confined to 1 side of the vermilion.

Conclusions: After oral propranolol treatment, IHs localized to upper lip had the same outcomes and prognosis as IHs localized to the lower lip. Lip IHs involving the vermillion border had worse outcomes and prognosis than lesions confined to 1 side of the vermillion.