What is the incidence of hemangioma (benign vascular tumor) in premature infants?

Incidence of Hemangioma in Premature Infants

The incidence of infantile hemangiomas in premature infants is dramatically elevated at 22-30% in infants weighing less than 1 kg, compared to approximately 4-5% in the general infant population. 1

Incidence by Birth Weight

The risk of developing infantile hemangiomas increases inversely with birth weight:

• Extremely low birth weight (<1 kg): 22-30% incidence 1
• Low birth weight: 25% increase in risk with every 500-gram reduction in birth weight 1
• General infant population: 4-5% incidence 1
• Alternative estimates: Some studies report 5-10% in newborns and up to 30% in premature infants broadly 2

Key Risk Factor

Low birth weight is the major independent contributor to hemangioma risk in premature infants, as demonstrated by multivariate analysis. 1 This relationship is dose-dependent, with progressively smaller infants facing exponentially higher risk.

Additional Epidemiologic Context

Beyond prematurity, other risk factors that may compound in premature infants include:

• Female sex: Higher incidence among girls 1
• White race: More common in white infants 1
• Placental factors: Placenta previa, preeclampsia, and placental hypoxia 1
• Multiple gestation: Associated with increased risk 1

Clinical Implications for Premature Infants

Premature infants require heightened surveillance because:

• Higher baseline risk: Up to 6-fold increase compared to term infants 1, 2
• Segmental lesions: More likely to cause complications requiring intervention 3
• Early identification: Most hemangiomas appear by 4 weeks of age and reach 80% of final size by 3 months 4, 5