Facial Hemangiomas May Signal PHACE

Early recognition of segmental facial lesions prompted diagnosis and multidisciplinary care in an infant with multisystem involvement

By
Andrea Surnit
April 14, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Objective:

To report a case of PHACE syndrome diagnosed in an infant with large segmental facial hemangiomas and associated congenital anomalies.

Approach:

Key Findings:

The infant presented with large facial hemangiomas and multiple congenital anomalies including brain malformations and cardiac defects.
Imaging revealed a Dandy-Walker malformation and significant vascular abnormalities, increasing stroke risk.
Treatment included aspirin, propranolol, prednisolone, and topical timolol, resulting in clinical improvement.

Interpretation:

The case underscores the importance of recognizing large facial hemangiomas as potential indicators of PHACE syndrome, necessitating multidisciplinary evaluation and intervention.

Limitations:

The findings are based on a single patient, limiting generalizability.
Long-term outcomes and optimal imaging frequency for PHACE syndrome remain unclear.