[Epidemiology of cutaneous vascular neoplasms and malformations in childhood].

PURPOSE: A representative compilation of data on the incidence and prevalence of benign cutaneous vascular neoplasms and malformations in childhood has been made.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the literature has been made and basic data from an own epidemiological survey in the province of Tyrol (Austria) in 6-year-old children are evaluated.

RESULTS: For capillary malformations with spontaneous regression (salmon patches), the reported numbers usually vary between 20 and 30% of the newborns, while true, persisting capillary malformations (port-wine stains) can be found in about 1%. Strawberry angiomas are found in about 3% of mature newborns but in up to 12.5% of preterm children. Complex vascular malformations or severe cases of vascular tumours are very rare.

CONCLUSION: All in all, vascular lesions are very common findings in childhood, but in most cases harmless and transient in nature. The number of lesions that may require adequate but usually uncomplicated treatment amounts to about one percent of children (strawberry angiomas and port-wine stains). Complex and/or life-threatening severe vascular tumours and malformations that represent a considerable therapeutic challenge are extremely rare events.