Incidence and clinical characteristics of periocular infantile hemangiomas

Ocular and orbital tumors in childhood

Pediatric tumors of the eye and orbit can be benign or malignant as well as congenital or acquired and are usually distinctively different than those seen in adults. Although most of these neoplasms are benign (eg, dermoid cyst, chalazion, molluscum), their location near and within a vital organ can result in serious dermatologic and ophthalmologic sequelae. Lesions discussed include vascular lesions, retinoblastomas (the most common primary pediatric intraocular malignancy), rhabdomyosarcoma (the most common primary pediatric orbital malignancy), Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and metastatic lesions to the orbit (neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma). Although cysts and ocular melanoma can occur within the pediatric population, these conditions are covered in other contributions in this issue of Clinics in Dermatology.

Prevalence and clinical features of orbital vascular anomalies in children

PURPOSE

To report the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and natural history of orbital vascular anomalies diagnosed among children over a 50-year period.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients <19 years diagnosed with any form of an orbital vascular anomaly (OVA) at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota from January 1 1966, through December 31 2015, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 109 children were diagnosed with OVA during the 50-year period, of which 24 were from Olmsted County, MN, yielding a birth prevalence of 1 in 4,305 live births. The median age at diagnosis for the 109 patients was 1.2 years (range, 0-17.9 years) and 67 (61.5%) were female. Common presenting symptoms included proptosis in 80 (73.4%) patients, abnormalities in skin color in 45 (41.3%) patients, and pain in 18 (16.5%) patients. There were 55 (50.5%) vascular malformations [50 (91%) low-flow lymphatic malformations, 3 (5.5%) high-flow arteriovenous malformations, and 2 (3.5%) low-flow venous malformations] and 54 (49.5%) vascular tumors [53 (98%) capillary hemangiomas and 1 (2%) kaposiform hemangioendothelioma]. During a mean follow-up of 5.95 years (range 0-27.7 years), amblyopia and/or strabismus were diagnosed in 46 (43.4%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Capillary hemangiomas and low-flow lymphatic malformations comprise most of the orbital vascular anomalies in this cohort of children. Amblyopia and strabismus are common sequelae, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management.

Incidence and clinical characteristics of pediatric ocular tumors in a Midwestern US population

PURPOSE

To investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of pediatric ocular tumors in a US Midwestern county population.

METHODS

Retrospective population-based cohort study of all Olmsted County, Minnesota, pediatric patients (<18 years old) diagnosed with any ocular neoplasm from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2015. Subjects were identified via the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a record-linkage system that captures virtually all medical care provided in this county. Medical records were reviewed to confirm diagnoses. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates were calculated and adjusted to the 2010 Olmsted County, Minnesota, pediatric population.

RESULTS

There were 87 incident pediatric ocular tumor diagnoses, yielding an overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of 24.0 per 100,000 per year (95% CI, 19.0-29.1). Females accounted for 46 cases (53%) cases, and 62 (85%) were White. Incidence rate for ocular tumors overall did not differ by patient age (P = 0.08) or sex (P = 0.47). All tumors were benign lesions. The most frequent adnexal/orbital, ocular surface, and intraocular tumors were epidermal inclusion cyst in 18 (21%) cases, conjunctival nevus in 10 (12%), and choroidal nevus in 18 (21%), respectively. The mean follow-up duration was 25.5 months (range, 7 days to 138.6 months), and benign tumor growth occurred in one conjunctival nevus. There were no cases of malignant transformation.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric ocular tumors were rare with an estimated incidence of approximately 1 in 4,200 pediatric patients in Olmsted County, Minnesota. All lesions were benign, with benign growth in only 1% of cases, and no tumors underwent malignant transformation.

β-Adrenoreceptors as Therapeutic Targets for Ocular Tumors and Other Eye Diseases-Historical Aspects and Nowadays Understanding

β-adrenoreceptors (ARs) are members of the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and are activated by catecholamines, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. Three subtypes of β-ARs (β₁, β₂, and β₃) have been identified with different distributions among ocular tissues. Importantly, β-ARs are an established target in the treatment of glaucoma. Moreover, β-adrenergic signaling has been associated with the development and progression of various tumor types. Hence, β-ARs are a potential therapeutic target for ocular neoplasms, such as ocular hemangioma and uveal melanoma. This review aims to discuss the expression and function of individual β-AR subtypes in ocular structures, as well as their role in the treatment of ocular diseases, including ocular tumors.

Periocular infantile hemangiomas: Characteristics, ocular sequelae, and outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To identify clinical factors associated with complications of periocular infantile hemangioma (IH) and monitor improvement in complication rates post-treatment.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study. Eighty-nine patients diagnosed with periocular IH at a pediatric dermatology clinic of a tertiary care center between 2001 and 2013 were included with parental approval. Parents were interviewed by telephone between July and September of 2015, then again in January 2018 to inquire about ophthalmologic follow-up. Electronic medical records were reviewed from January 2001 through January 2018.

RESULTS

Sixty percent of patients demonstrated ocular sequelae, including astigmatism (33%), visual axis obstruction (29%), nasolacrimal duct obstruction (7%), ptosis (4%), amblyopia (3%), and strabismus (1%). Compared with superficial IH, deep and mixed IH had higher odds, 3.4 (P = 0.025) and 3.8 (P = 0.034), respectively, of developing ocular sequelae. All patients with astigmatism prior to involution of IH received systemic therapy, with a significant post-treatment decrease in the proportion of patients with astigmatism (40% to 18%, P = 0.027). Three-quarters of patients experienced complete IH involution by time of enrollment in kindergarten. Fifty-one (57.3%) patients received formal ophthalmologic evaluation confirmed through chart review or phone interview, with average follow-up duration of 51.2 months (range: 1.9, 99.3).

CONCLUSION

Deep and mixed IH were more likely to demonstrate ocular complications than superficial IH. Rate of astigmatism decreased with systemic therapy. Our study suggests that patients with periocular IH have a lower rate of amblyopia now compared with the prepropranolol era and emphasizes the importance of early treatment of periocular IH to prevent permanent visual sequelae.

Pediatric Periocular Dermoid Cysts: Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Surgical Outcomes

PURPOSE

To report the incidence, clinical findings, and surgical outcomes of periocular dermoid cysts diagnosed among children over a 20-year period.

METHODS

All patients ≤5 years of age, who were diagnosed with a periocular dermoid cyst in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1986 to 2005 were reviewed to determine the population incidence, clinical presentation, and management outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 54 children were diagnosed with a periocular dermoid cyst during the 20-year period, yielding a birth incidence of 1 in 638 live births. The mean age at diagnosis was 12 months (range, 1 month-60 months) and 29 (53.7%) were female. A total of 44 cysts (81.5%) occurred in the superotemporal orbital rim, 6 (11.1%) in the superonasal orbital rim, 3 (5.6%) in other periocular areas, and one (1.9%) within the orbit. A total of 34 (63%) children had an ophthalmic exam, all without amblyopia or other ocular sequelae. A total of 48 (88.9%) patients underwent surgical excision with 5 (10.4%) having documented intra-operative cyst rupture, none of whom had post-operative complications. Two (4.2%) other patients were, however, noted to have lesion recurrence following surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Periocular dermoid cysts occur in approximately 1 in 650 live births and most commonly occur in the superotemporal region of children aged 1 year or less. Ocular sequelae are rare and surgical excision often yields excellent results.

Beta Blockers in the Treatment of Periocular Infantile Hemangiomas: A Review

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common benign tumor of infancy, and in the periocular region can be associated with permanent visual impairment from amblyopia. Previous treatment options included systemic and local corticosteroids, surgical excision, laser therapy, and in rare cases immunomodulatory therapy, many of which had variable outcomes with undesirable side effect profiles. Since their initial use for IH in 2008, beta blockers have become the mainstay of therapy for periocular IH due to their excellent clinical efficacy and tolerability. While the exact mechanism of action of beta blockers in IH has not been fully elucidated, both oral and topical therapy have demonstrated low rates of adverse events and improved outcomes in the management of periocular IH. This review summarizes the most recent studies on the clinical outcomes, management, and guidelines for the treatment of periocular IH with topical and oral beta blockers.

Hemangiomas and the eye

Infantile hemangiomas are a common vascular birthmark with heterogeneous presentations and unique growth characteristics with early rapid growth and eventual self-involution. Hemangiomas that develop around the eye have the potential for inducing amblyopia by several mechanisms and may eventually result in permanent visual impairment in otherwise healthy infants. Segmental periocular hemangiomas carry the additional risk of associated structural anomalies and PHACE syndrome. In recent years, the treatment of periocular hemangiomas has been revolutionized by the serendipitous discovery of the effectiveness of beta-blockers (systemic and topical), with most experts viewing these as first-line therapies. The management of periocular hemangiomas should involve a close partnership between an ophthalmologist and dermatologist or other relevant specialists familiar with the unique clinical features, differential diagnosis, treatment approaches, and potential complications.