In a press release from the University of Minnesota, Sheilagh Maguiness, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the university’s Medical School, Director of the Center for Pediatric Vascular Anomalies, and a pediatric dermatologist at the M Health Fairview Pediatric Specialty Clinic–Discovery, detailed how she treated a pediatric patient with a rare dermatologic condition. The patient, Piper Cramer, was born with an infantile hemangioma that covered over half of her face. Dr. Maguiness explained that the condition, which occurs in about 4% of neonatal patients, typically consists of small vascular birthmarks that disappear on their own. However, Piper’s condition worsened and spread to her lips, mouth, and lower body. After Piper’s mother traveled 5 hours to visit the M Health Fairview Pediatric Specialty Clinic–Discovery, Dr. Maguiness performed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and determined that the blood vessels in Piper’s brain could make her susceptible to seizure and stroke and would require monitoring by a neurologist. To treat Piper’s skin, Dr. Maguiness prescribed a blood pressure drug and removed the rest of the hemangioma via laser therapy. Dr. Maguiness revealed that she first began researching and treating large blood vessel birthmarks after two of her neonatal patients died from the condition. Since then, she has worked to advance the understanding of pediatric dermatology and boost the number of pediatric dermatologists across the country.
January 17, 2024