Infantile hemangiomas may affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their family members, as anxiety and worry may commonly occur in parents, also linked to the social adversion they experience. We underline the beneficial impact of oral propranolol therapy on QoL of patients with infantile hemangiomas (IH) and of their relatives. A specific questionnaire measuring QoL was administered to parents of IH patients at beginning and end of a treatment with oral propranolol. Different aspects were investigated: site of the lesion, age of patients at starting therapy, length of treatment, occurrence of adverse effects and persistence/recurrence of the vascular anomaly. In all cases the questionnaire revealed a significant improvement of QoL, which was independent from all analyzed factors. It showed that oral propranolol administration in these patients combines optimal clinical results with relevant improvement of QoL, especially in cases of early management. The improvement of QoL seems unrelated to site of lesion, timing and duration of therapy, occurrence of drug-related adverse effects and persistence/recurrence of disease.

Summary: The aim of this study was to report our long‐term diagnostic and surgical outcome during the last 18 years, in paediatric and adolescent management of varicocoele. The present retrospective study enrols 374 patients observed at our institution between 1994 and 2011. Patients were divided into three groups: Group A includes 142 youngsters and adolescents treated with open surgery for left varicocoele, in which a pre‐operative CDUS was not performed; Group B includes 65 patients treated with open surgery in which a pre‐operative CDUS evaluation was carried out, to assess varicocoele haemodynamic pattern and testicular volume. Group C includes 167 patients treated by laparoscopy and with pre‐operative CDUS assessment. For all groups post‐operative follow‐up consisted of CDUS evaluation performed 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgical treatment, than every year. Persistence/recurrence of varicocoele, testicular volume and presence of hydrocele were evaluated. Recurrence rate was significatively higher in group A (11.2%) than B (no recurrence, p = 0.003) or C (no recurrence, p = 0.000). Post‐operative hydrocele was not significantly observed overall in group A in 9.8% of cases (13% if tunica vaginalis was left untouched, 4.2% if everted or resected p = 0.005), in group B in 3% and in group C in 7.1% of cases (p = NS). In conclusion, open and laparoscopic surgery offers similar results. In our opinion, the key‐point in paediatric and adolescent varicocoele is not the surgical approach to use, but the exact diagnosis. Careful CDUS evaluation is, in our opinion, a valid, safe, cost‐effective and immediate tool to accurately detect all refluxing venous system and for achieving a comprehensive evaluation of the vascular anatomy of varicocoele in paediatric and adolescent age. Laparoscopic Palomo or open subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy offer similar results in terms of recurrence; meanwhile the use of a lymphatic sparing surgery with or without blue‐dye is recommended to reduce post‐operative hydroceles.

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common benign vascular tumors in neonates, with a prevalence of 5-10% in full-term infants. Its occurrence in the palate is rare. While typically self-limiting, complicated IHs can lead to significant morbidity, especially when involving critical structures. We report the case of a full-term newborn presenting with a 2×2 cm exophytic lesion on the hard palate, causing feeding difficulties, anemia, and recurrent bleeding. Early administration of oral propranolol, initiated on the 11th day of life, proved effective in managing this complicated IH. The treatment, started at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day and gradually increased to 3 mg/kg/day, resulted in rapid ulceration healing and lesion regression. Follow-up over eight months confirmed the therapy's efficacy and safety, with no adverse effects reported. To contextualize this case, a systematic review of the literature was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, focusing on neonatal IHs of the head and neck treated with beta-blockers. Out of 1052 papers identified between 2015 and 2024, only four relevant studies were included. These cases highlighted propranolol’s role as a first-line treatment for complicated IHs, even in neonates. However, the review also emphasized diagnostic challenges, particularly in atypical locations such as the hard palate, which may delay therapy. This case and literature review underscore the importance of early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach for managing high-risk IHs. While propranolol is generally avoided in neonates younger than 45 weeks of corrected gestational age due to potential adverse effects, our findings suggest that close monitoring in a hospital setting enables its safe administration. This report contributes to the growing evidence supporting propranolol as a safe and effective therapy for neonatal IHs and highlights the need for further research to refine treatment protocols for this vulnerable population.