Pediatric Board Review Sample Question : What’s your diagnosis for this skin lesion?

If you knew this was a strawberry hemangioma or capillary hemangioma, then you are well on your way to " Passing the Boards without Passing a Stone " ®

 You will likely be presented with or they will describe a  polypoid raised lesion  usually bright red to deep purple.    They are typically seen shortly after birth most commonly on the head or face . Strawberry hemangiomas are also called capillary hemangiomas and  go through a rapid growth period before they involute. 

In other words they get worse before they get better, and parental anxiety also escalates accordingly. Parental anxiety on the boards is often a distractor used to divert you in the wrong direction especially is there quotes around the parents words. 

In this case don't be fooled into believing this is a malignancy if this is falsely implied in the history. They might note that the parents are " concerned about cancer " which would tell that it is not a malignancy. 

Treatment now includes propranolol which is often the correct diagnosis That’s right!  Propranolol the heart slowing, anxiety reducing beta blocker is used to treat capillary / strawberry hemngiomas now. 

Commit this to memory and that’s one question closer to a relaxing ( beta blocking ) strawberry ( hemangioma) daiquiri on the beach to celebrate your passing the pediatric boards  

The following is additional information on Capillary( Strawberry Hemangiomas) from our recently released digital atlas " Pictures Worth 100 Points "