MRI Findings Common to Infantile Hemangiomas

Abstract

Background: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common vascular tumors of infancy. Children may have Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to establish or confirm the diagnosis or to further evaluate lesions that do not improve with treatment. Objective: Describe specific MRI findings common to infantile hemangiomas. Compare the imaging diagnosis with the clinical diagnosis of IH to determine diagnostic accuracy. Methods: A descriptive retrospective chart review on a convenience sample. Twenty-six patients had a total of 31 MR studies in the group. From these 31 studies, 16 also had magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Results: Clinical diagnosis matched imaging diagnosis 96.8% of the time. Findings from imaging of the infantile hemangiomas included increased signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences (96.8%), isointense or decreased signal with T1-weighted sequences (83.9%) and moderate to marked contrast enhancement (78.5%). Lesions appeared to be high flow (64.5%), demonstrated lobulation (58.1%), and displayed central, low signal intensity dots on T2-weighted sequences (54.8%). In contrast, cystic spaces, intralesional DIC, phleboliths, focal intralesional inhomogenities, septation, edema, fat stranding, aneurysms, venous ectasia, and shunts were not features regularly seen in imaging of IHs in this study. Limitations: Small sample size on a convenience sample based at one institution. Conclusion: There are specific features to infantile hemangiomas on MR imaging that can be used for aid in diagnosis.