Submandibular hemangioma as the initial manifestation of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome

Abstract Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (thrombocytopenia, consumption coagulopathy and occasional hemolysis) is an infrequent but often fatal complication of rapidly growing hemangiomas in infants. We describe a 1-month-old infant with a huge hemangioma involving the left submandibular region associated with a severe consumptive coagulopathy, who was successfully treated with transfusion of blood products, prednisone and radiation therapy. It is stressed that pediatric otorhinolaryngologists should always be aware of the lethal status of this condition in infants.