Skin Hemangioma and Retrolental Fibroplasia

IN THE past 10 years, coincident with the greater survival rate of premature infants, an increase in the frequency of blindness in babies has been observed. This led to the discovery of the disease entity of retrolental fibroplasia, which has a relationship to skin hemangiomas. The pathology of retrolental fibroplasia is that of hemangiomatous tissue extending from the retina into the vitreous. It is important for the dermatologist to know about retrolental fibroplasia. In many cases there is spontaneous regression, but in the others the only possible treatment is by irradiation in the early active stage before irremedial damage, cicatrization, and blindness develop. Such treatment is still on an experimental basis. If the condition is diagnosed sufficiently early, there is some slight hope of stopping the process. Also, it is important for the dermatologist to know that impairment of vision or blindness developing after treatment of hemangiomas near the