OBJECTIVETo explore the main points of clinical differentiation between hemangioma and vascular malformation in infant.

METHODSBased on Mulliken and Waner's classification, from March, 1997 to February, 1999, 81 baby patients with hemangioma were included in this study. Thirty-eight cases, 43 cases received medical treatment of steroids.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 5 to 7 years. Thirty-eight cases of red strawberry-like lesions limited in the skin began to involute within two years old. Of the 30 patients with strawberry-like lesions and subcutaneous mass, 20 cases involuted in varying degree; 10 cases' subcutaneous mass grew gradually and didn't involute, in 4 cases biopsy was performed, 3 cases were confirmed as hemangioma accompanied with venous malformation by pathology, 1 case was hemangioma accompanied with arteriovenous malformation. Of 13 cases with light blue or normal skin and subcutaneous mass, 7 cases involuted in varying degree; 6 cases grow gradually and didn't disappear, 2 cases were confirmed as venous malformation by biopsy.

CONCLUSIONSHemangioma in infant begins to involute within two years old. Vascular malformation or hemangioma with deep vascular malformation grows persistently and does not disappear. Skin temperature of lesion surface and dilative veins on the skin artery pulsation, are indexes compressibility, for differentiation between hemangioma and vascular malformation in clinical diagnosis.