Haemangiomas and Associated Congenital Malformations in a Large Population-Based Sample of Infants

摘要

Haemangiomas are common, benign, vascular tumors, observed in 4-12 percent of infants during the first year of life. Most cases progress without complication, yet a small proportion experience life-threatening complications. Concomitant congenital malformations have been reported in a small but significant proportion of haemangioma patients. This study aimed to describe haemangioma cases and to identify patterns of congenital malformations associated with these diagnoses in a large population. Diagnoses of haemangiomas and 21 congenital malformations were extracted from electronic medical records of 467,295 singleton infants born to U.S. military families from 1998 to 2003. Cluster analysis was used to group cases according to these diagnoses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to further explore the associations of the 21 congenital malformations with the diagnosis of haemangioma and to assess the adjusted relationships between a number of characteristics of interest and haemangioma diagnosis. Clusters found to be associated with haemangioma diagnosis were characterized by anomalies of the cervix, vagina, and external female genitalia, anophthalmia or microphthalmia, hydrocephalus without spina bifida, and reduction deformities of the brain. Logistic regression identified three congenital malformations significantly associated with haemangioma diagnosis: spina bifida without anencephalus, hydrocephalus without spina bifida, and anomalies of the cervix, vagina, and external female genitalia. Characteristics significantly associated with haemangioma diagnosis included female gender, preterm birth, white non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, and being born to an older mother. This exploratory study identified a number of important associations between haemangiomas and congenital malformations that may provide insight into the pathogenesis of these disorders and have possible implications for clinical care.