SOC
Surgery on Children

Surgery on Children Journal aims to publish issues related to Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatric Vascular Surgery, Pediatric Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatric Ear Nose Throat, Ophthalmology, Pediatric Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Pediatric Urology, Pediatric Surgical Intensive Care Clinic, and other clinical surgery fields on children of the highest scientific and clinical value at an international level and accepts articles on these topics.

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Original Article
Comparison between topical timolol and oral propranolol for the treatment of superficial infantile hemangioma
Abstract
Aims: Infantile hemangiomas are the most common benign paediatric vascular tumors. In spite of good results in the management of infantile hemangioma with oral propranolol, it may cause systemic side effects in the long run. The use of topical timolol can minimize systemic side effects, and it is easy to apply in the paediatric age group. This study aimed to evaluate a safer, more effective, and more easily applicable drug for the treatment of infantile hemangioma.
Methods: It was a prospective comparative interventional study that was conducted in Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital from May 2018 to September 2020. A total of 89 patients with superficial infantile hemangioma were selected purposively for this study who completed 6 months of follow-up after the initial treatment. They were randomly assigned to the topical timolol group (group A=44) and oral propranolol group (group B=45). Regression of size, change of color, adverse effects, and parent satisfaction regarding the mode of administration of drugs were statistically compared between the two groups.
Results: The age range of the patients was 1 to 12 months, where the majority of the patients were female. Most of the lesions were in the head and neck region in both groups. In group A 72.7% patients showed excellent response in size regression, compared to group B 68.9% patients, which showed no statistically significant difference. In group A 75% had an excellent color regression, compared to group B 68.9% (p=0.0784). Regarding adverse effects in group A, only 3 children (6.8%) developed adverse effects compared to 12 (26.7%) in group B which was statistically significant (p=0.021). In group A (97.7%) parents were more satisfied than in group B (80.0%) regarding the mode of administration of two drugs, which was statistically significant (p=0.015).
Conclusion: Use of topical timolol turns out to be a good choice for the treatment of patients with superficial infantile hemangioma. It has the same efficacy, but the adverse effect is comparatively less than oral propranolol. Applying topical timolol is easier for the parents than oral propranolol.

Keywords : Hemangioma, capillary, propranolol, timolol

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Ethical Statement

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Review Committee of the Bangladesh Institute of Child Health and Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital (Date: 05.03.2018, Decision No: BICH-ERC-11-01-2018).

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from a parent or legal guardian. Where appropriate, age-adjusted assent was also obtained from the child. The inclusion of vulnerable populations in this study adhered to national and international ethical guidelines. Extra care was taken to ensure voluntary participation, understanding, and protection of participant dignity and autonomy.

Author Contributions

Concept: TT; Design: TT; Control: KI; Resources: TT, AAF; Materials: TT, AAF; Data Collection and/or Processing: TT, AAF; Analysis and/or Interpretation: TT, AAF; Literature Review: AAF; Writing the Article: TT, AAF; Critical Review: KI; Final Approval: TT, AAF, KI; Accountability: TT, AAF, KI.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the conduct or publication of this research.


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Article available in :
Volume 3, Issue 4, 2026
Page : 107-112
https://doi.org/10.51271/SOC-0082
Article Information
Received : 03 Nis 2026
Accepted : 17 May 2026
Published : 20 Eki 2026
Corresponding Author :

Tasniya Tarannum: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dhaka Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

[email protected]
Citation : Tarannum T, Al Faisal A, Islam K. Comparison between topical timolol and oral propranolol for the treatment of superficial infantile hemangioma. Surg Child. 2026;3(4):107-112. doi:10.51271/SOC-0082

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