Giant Hemangioma with Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Cases of giant hemangioma in infancy complicated by thrombocytopenia and bleeding have been reported in the literature.^1-9The purpuric manifestations are frequently mild and intermittent, although serious intracranial and visceral hemorrhages have been encountered. Recovery follows surgical removal, radiation therapy, or, rarely, spontaneous regression. Mechanical sequestration of platelets in the vascular channels of the hemangioma is believed to be the mechanism of thrombocytopenia which results in bleeding.² This report describes a case of hemangioma associated with thrombocytopenia in a 7-day-old infant. The patient was transfused with Cr⁵¹-tagged platelets, and survival of the donor platelets was studied. Scintillation counting over the hemangioma and spleen to detect sequestration of platelets was performed. Report of a Case A white baby girl, 1 day of age, was admitted to Columbus Children's Hospital on May 31, 1961, with a tentative diagnosis of isoimmunization disease. The baby was born of a gravida