Hemangioma: Types, outlook and treatments

Hemangioma – types, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments

If your baby has developed a hemangioma (also called angioma) you may be worried, but in the vast majority of cases it is a problem that is not important and that can heal on its own. On the occasions when this is not the case, today there are non-invasive treatments that can be of great help.

Is hemangioma a tumour?

The hemangioma is a more or less large and red or bluish-red lump that can appear anywhere on the body. It is considered a tumour because it is made up of cells that multiply, but it is a benign tumour.

This red lump appears in up to 8% of infants, so it is not a strange pathology, but quite common.

In most cases, the angioma causes an aesthetic problem, but in certain cases, it can cause various discomforts depending on where it appeared. If it is on the eyelid it can hinder vision, if it is in the mouth it can affect swallowing, and in those cases where it is very large, it can overload the heart.

Why do they appear?

To this day its exact origin is unknown, although various theories have been developed. There are those who think that these are small pieces of placenta that have been implanted in the baby’s skin and who believe that they arise as a measure to replace a lack of oxygenation of the tissues during the embryonic development process.

What is clear is that they are not hereditary nor do they occur with greater incidence in one place or another. Of course, the data allow us to determine that they appear more frequently in girls, in premature babies and in children who have a low birth weight.

Hemangiomas are capillaries that have grown abnormally. They are benign tumours with a rapid growth capacity. The latest studies carried out on this issue have shown that this problem affects 8% of infants, without there being a specific cause for its appearance. Some theories point to the lack of oxygenation of the tissues during embryonic development, but what seems to be clear is that they are not hereditary conditions.

What types of hemangiomas are there?

• Strawberry angioma: It is the most common, it is usually 2 to 5 cm in diameter (they can be larger) and are characterized by being higher than the skin that surrounds them. In babies they usually appear in the first months of life, they have slow growth and a slow regression, but they end up disappearing almost completely. Regression usually occurs, in 50% of cases, over 5 years of age.
• Cavernous angioma: It is the deepest and usually has a bluish colour, with indefinite margins. The normal thing is that they do not exceed 6 cm. It has a growth phase, a stabilization phase and a regression phase, but in some cases, it can cause cosmetic problems that require surgical treatment.
• Port wine stain: It is very rare and has a red or bluish-red colour, usually appearing on the face or neck. It is smooth and can occupy a large area.
• Salmon stain. It is a vascular lesion with a rosy appearance in areas such as the nose, forehead and occipital region. Lesions on the face always disappear, those in the occipital area persist.

Is it totally harmless?

Small hemangiomas do not usually cause a major problem and it is even common that with the passage of time they flatten and disappear, but there are angiomas that can become dangerous depending on the part of the body in which they are, since they can obstruct the airways, and can even appear in organs as important as the liver.

It is important to monitor them to control that they do not ulcerate and can cause even more discomfort.

What to do if a hemangioma appears?

If your little one has developed a hemangioma, it is best to consult your paediatrician. The professional will examine the lump and determine if any treatment needs to be applied.

To make a good diagnosis it may sometimes be necessary to do a CT scan or an MRI. Treatment will depend on factors such as the size, location, and severity of the angioma.

What treatments are there?

The corticosteroids are often administered by injection or orally and are usually applied in late hemangiomas that are disfiguring growth, they involve vital commitment or possible visual sequelae. Its effectiveness can be verified in just a few days, and the treatment must be maintained for a few weeks under medical supervision.

Corticosteroids often cause side effects, so treatment usually involves taking other medications precisely to avoid those side effects. In those cases in which the desired results are not achieved with corticosteroids, the application of interferon is switched to.

For angiomas that are in the nasal area, surgery is recommended as soon as possible. What is sought is to avoid the displacement and destruction of cartilage. By eliminating the hemangioma a normal development of the nose is favoured.

The laser is also becoming very popular as a treatment for angiomas. It is useful for treating superficial lesions and the superficial portion of deep hemangiomas; it is also recommended for the treatment of certain ulcerated angiomas.

Although it works well, its effects are limited by depth, since the pulsed light does not reach more than 2 or 3 mm.

Is it possible the appearance of hemangiomas in adults?

Yes, these types of benign tumours can also make an appearance in adults. They appear more frequently in women than in men and are usually in the head and neck area.

Typically, they are located on the forehead, in the hair growth area and near the nose, as well as on the cheeks. Nor is its appearance uncommon in the genital area. The latter requires special care because it is more common for them to become infected or ulcerate.

Hemangioma is usually found fairly early. The appearance of an irregular reddish or blue spot is usually noticed on the skin, as well as a small lump. It has fast growth, so you have to put yourself in the hands of the specialist as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming big.

As in the case of babies, treatments can range from pharmacological methods to the use of lasers, and even going through the operating room if necessary.