OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect and appropriate power of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of infant hemangioma.

METHODS80 infants with hemangioma were randomly divided into four groups, 20 cases in each group. All cases in group A, B and C were irradiated on the lesion surface with 3-5 mm/s speed for five continuous come-and-goes using HIFU, with frequency 9 MHz, impulse 1 000 Hz and 10% scanning overlap. The power was respectively 3.5 W in group A, 4.0 W in group B and 4.5 W in group C. One session contained three times of treatment, with one month interval. The cases in group D were only followed up as control group. The therapeutic effect, ulcer and scar in irradiated region in group A, B, C were observed 6 months after the last treatment, which were synchronously compared with those in group D.

RESULTS6 months after the last treatment, 7, 9, 8 cases were cured and 9, 8, 10 cases were almost cured, and 4, 3, 2 cases got improved in group A, B, C, respectively. The total effective rate was 100% in the three groups. While only 5 cases got improved in group D. The treatment effect in group A, B and C was obviously better than that in group D (P < 0.05), with no significant difference among the three groups statistically (P > 0.05). Ulcer and scar in irradiated skin occurred in 0,4,6,0 cases in group A, B, C and D, respectively. The incidence of ulcer and scar was obviously higher in group B and C than that in group A and D statistically (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHIFU irradiating is one of effective methods for infant hemangioma treatment. The appropriate power should not be above 3.5 W.