Description

What is Hemangioma or infantile hemangiomas.

It is a noncancerous vascular growth of blood vessels. It is most common in tumor in children. Hemangiomas can grow anywhere on the body and it mostly appears on the face and neck

Hemangiomas very rarely become cancerous, most do not require any medical treatment. However, some hemangiomas can be disfiguring, and in most cases of hemangioma, treatment does not involve surgery. Instances when surgery may be necessary include for tumors that are deep in muscle or bone, or for tumors on the skin that cause problems with vision, breathing, or eating.          

Signs and symptoms of hemangiomas

Hemangiomas can occur on the top layer of the skin or deeper in the body. Hemangiomas look painful, but they don’t typically cause any discomfort. After a brief period of rapid growth, they often shrink on their own without treatment.

When The Treatment is needed for hemangiomas

Treatment for hemangiomas depends on their size, location, and severity. Treatment is usually not recommended for small, noninvasive hemangiomas, since they will become smaller (involute) on their own. However, hemangiomas that cause bleeding problems, feeding or breathing difficulties, growth disturbances, or impairment of vision may require medical or surgical intervention.

The hemangioma may need to be treated if:

• The skin “breaks down” and an open sore forms.
• It gets infected (especially if it is in the diaper area).

It causes problems with any of the following:

• Vision
• Breathing
• Hearing
• Eating
• Diaper changes
• It is very large or it is a cosmetic concern, such as on the face

Treatment for hemangiomas:

• Steroid medications
• Embolization of the blood vessels (injection of material into the blood vessels to block the blood inflow)
• Laser or surgical removal
• An oral medication called Propranolol: this is classically a heart medication that has been safely used to treat symptomatic hemangiomas.

There are some  common  hemangioma types

1. Capillary hemangioma.
2. Cavernous hemangioma.
3. Compound hemangioma
4. Lobular capillary hemangioma (pyogenic granuloma).
5. Congenital hemangiomas
6. Cerebral cavernous malformations or cavernous angioma (Brain hemangioma)
7. Liver cavernous hemangioma
8. Eye cavernous hemangioma