Hemangioma: Specialists & Information

Hemangiomas are also known as hemangiomas. Like vascular malformations, they are benign vascular tumors and vascular malformations. Hemangiomas usually appear immediately after birth or in the first few weeks of life. Vascular malformations, on the other hand, often only become noticeable in childhood or adolescence. The treatment of hemangiomas and vascular malformations includes surgical removal, cryosurgery or laser therapy.

Below you will find further information and selected hemangioma specialists.

Differentiation between various vascular malformations

The classification of the "International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies" (ISSVA) from 1996 is decisive for the differentiation. According to this, doctors differentiate vascular formations into

• hemangiomas and
• vascular malformations.

A targeted diagnosis can only be made through interdisciplinary cooperation. The diagnosis is followed by an individual treatment plan.

Definition: Hemangioma

Hemangiomas are the most common tumors of childhood. They occur immediately after birth or in the first few weeks of life and are generally benign.

A hemangioma originates from the endothelium (innermost cell layer in a blood vessel). It is a vascular tumor in the sense of proliferating (i.e. rapidly regrowing) new formations.

Hemangiomas are characterized by

• rapid growth (6 to 12 months),
• a phase of stagnation (6 to 12 months) and
• a phase of regression (1 to 12 years).

In 90 percent of cases, hemangiomas regress spontaneously.

Hemangiomas can become very large, but often regress spontaneously © Any Grant | AdobeStock

Definition: Vascular malformations

Vascular malformations are hereditary. They are malformations with dysplastic (malformed) vascular channels without cellular proliferation (rapid growth of cells).

They are not subject to spontaneous regression (spontaneous healing). They often only become apparent in childhood or adolescence. Vascular malformations grow in proportion to development.

Growth spurts of vascular malformations can be caused by

• hormonal changes during puberty or pregnancy,
• trauma or
• surgical measures

be caused.

Vascular malformations are classified according to the characteristics of the blood flow in the blood vessels as follows:

• Slow flow ("low flow"): Capillary malformation, Lymphatic malformation, Venous malformation
• Rapidly flowing ("high flow"): Arteriovenous malformation

Symptoms of hemangiomas

The following symptoms occur with hemangiomas:

• Overheated swellings,
• berry-like protrusions,
• infiltrating masses with overlying normal skin,
• functional and aesthetic impairments.

Diagnosis of hemangiomas and vascular malformations

Careful diagnosis is necessary to differentiate between hemangiomas and vascular malformations. It begins with a precise history (medical history) and clinical findings.

Additional examinations are

• Color-coded duplex sonography(ultrasound examination of the blood flow),
• an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging to assess the depth of expansion),
• time-resolved MR angiography (imaging of the blood vessels using various imaging techniques for vascular malformations) and
• X-rays or CT (for bone changes).

Treatment of hemangiomas

The following treatment methods are used for hemangiomas:

• Follow-up,
• Cryosurgery (for superficial and small hemangiomas),
• laser surgery (for larger lesions),
• flashlamp-pumped dye laser or IPL (penetration depth 2 mm),
• percutaneous use of neodymium: YAG laser,
• Systemic therapy with corticosteroids or beta blockers (to stimulate the regression of hemangiomas) and
• surgical reduction of hemangiomas in critical zones.