Overview
Common, especially in infants Hemangiomas are arteries and/or veins that multiply more than they should. This collection of blood vessels forms a mass. They are usually painless, red to blue colored lesions. They are usually painless, but superficial lesions may bleed or become sore if bumped or injured.
They are . They may occur anywhere in the body. If they are in the skin or just below the skin, they are visible as a reddish or bluish discoloration. There may or may not be a bump. Hemangiomas can also occur in the deeper tissues, such as muscle or bone. Hemagiomas are NOT cancer, and it is extremely rare for one to become cancer. Many times hemangiomas do not require treatment, but many patients want them treated if the bump is very discolored and in a very obvious place, such as the face.
Description
These hemangiomas will get bigger quickly in the first year of life and then will start to shrink. It may take many years for the hemangioma to completely disappear. If the hemangioma does not shrink on its own, or if the hemangioma is on a very noticeable place, such as the baby’s face or head, your doctor might recommend treatment.
An MRI is often ordered because it shows soft tissues and the hemangioma is easier to see. The MRI may also be done with an angiogram, which is when dye is injected into the vessels.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Many times Steroids may be used to slow the growth of the mass. This may need to be injected into the hemangioma, or may be taken by mouth. Compression with stockings and bandages can help decrease swelling but it will not make the hemangioma go away.
Some hemangiomas are candidates for embolization, which is when a substance is injected into the blood vessels to try to close them off. Sclerotherapy is when the injected substance shrinks the vessels. Embolization and sclerotherapy will help to shrink the tumor, so this can be useful before surgery. The hemangioma may regrow its blood supply, though, after embolization or sclerotherapy.
Surgery
If the hemangioma is painful or very large and starting to crowd the normal tissue, your surgeon may recommend an excision. This is when the surgeon removes the hemangioma in the operating room. Even with the best excision, there is a chance that the hemangioma may come back, so your surgeon will want your child to come back for regular appointments after the surgery.
