Hemangioma (Only Found In Pediatric Patients)

A hemangioma, also called an infantile hemangioma, is a bright red birthmark that shows up at birth or early in a child’s life. It looks like a rubbery bump and is made up of extra blood vessels in the skin. While it can occur anywhere on a child’s body, it most commonly appears on the face, scalp, chest or back. It usually fades over time. 

Types & Stages 

The two most common types of hemangiomas are:

• Capillary. These appear on the outer layers of the skin. These include infantile hemangiomas (strawberry hemangiomas), which are common in infants. They also include cherry hemangiomas, which are common in adults, especially over age 75.
   
• Cavernous. These form in deeper layers of skin, often around the eyes. When they grow near the eyes, they can sometimes affect eye development or function. That can contribute to vision conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), glaucoma and cataracts.

Signs & Symptoms 

The first signs of hemangioma may be visible at birth, but it appears more often during the first month of life. Additionally:

• It starts as a flat red mark on the body, most often on the face, scalp, chest or back.
• A child generally only has one mark, but some children may have more than one mark.
• During a child's first year, the red mark may grow rapidly into a spongy, rubbery-looking bump that sticks out from the skin.
• The hemangioma then enters a rest phase.  
• Then it will begin to slowly go away. Many hemangiomas go away by age five, and most go away by age 10. The skin may be slightly discolored or raised after that.

Diagnosis 

In most cases, your doctor can diagnose a hemangioma by looking at it. Tests typically aren't needed.

Treatment 

Treating hemangiomas generally isn't necessary because they go away on their own with time. Some hemangiomas can affect important structures or are of cosmetic concern due to size or location. You may want to think about treatment for your child if a hemangioma leads to problems with vision, breathing or other bodily functions. You also may think about treatment if the hemangioma is in a cosmetically sensitive area. Treatments include:

• Beta blocker medicines. In small hemangiomas, you may need to apply a gel containing the medicine timolol to the affected skin. Some hemangiomas may go away if treated with propranolol, which is a liquid medicine taken by mouth. Treatment typically needs to continue until about 1 to 2 years of age.  
   
• Corticosteroid medicines. If beta blocker treatments don't work for a child, corticosteroids may be an option. They can be given as a shot or applied to the skin.
   
• Laser surgery. Sometimes laser surgery can remove a small, thin hemangioma or treat sores on a hemangioma.

Causes & Risk Factors 

A hemangioma is made up of extra blood vessels that group together into a dense clump. What causes the vessels to clump isn't known. Risks include:

• Gender. Hemangiomas occur more often in babies who are female.
• Race. They’re more common for babies who are white.
• Prematurity. Babies with a low birth weight are more likely to have a hemangioma.

Screening 

There is no routine screening test for hemangiomas.