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Hemangioma
How to determine if a red spot is a hemangioma
In clinical settings, to determine whether red spots on the skin are hemangiomas, it is advised to visit a hospital and seek the expertise of an oncologist or a dermatologist specializing in vascular surgery for proper diagnosis. For small red spots on the skin, one can apply local pressure to see if the redness fades, returning to a normal skin color, which could indicate that the spots are hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are relatively common benign vascular tumors. In most cases, they do not cause symptoms clinically and are due to endothelial cell abnormalities in the vessels. Symptoms such as pain might occur only when the hemangioma is large enough to cause compression.
The difference between lipomas and hemangiomas
Lipomas and hemangiomas are not the same disease and are not directly related. Lipomas generally occur in superficial parts of the body, sometimes in the muscle layer. Lipomas typically have a complete capsule and exhibit a lobulated shape. They are usually soft, and patients do not exhibit obvious local symptoms. On the other hand, hemangiomas often occur in solid organs, including liver hemangiomas, spleen hemangiomas, and kidney hemangiomas. Hemangiomas can also appear in superficial areas, such as the skin where they can form strawberry-like lesions, causing discomfort due to their appearance. However, most hemangiomas do not tend to enlarge and are benign, requiring no special treatment.
What should be noted about hemangiomas of the liver?
For patients with hepatic hemangioma, the precautions mainly include the following points: First, the severity of hepatic hemangioma is primarily related to its size. Therefore, patients with small hemangiomas usually do not show obvious symptoms and do not require special treatment. It is sufficient to regularly re-examine them with color ultrasound to dynamically observe changes in size. However, for patients with large hepatic hemangiomas, which often cause rupture and bleeding, attention should be paid. Interventional surgery can be used to achieve embolization, thus achieving the purpose of treatment. Second, patients with hepatic hemangioma should also avoid spicy and irritating foods, as well as foods that are difficult to digest, in order to lessen the burden on the liver and help control the progression of the disease.
Do hemangiomas differentiate between benign and malignant?
Hemangiomas are a type of tumor commonly seen in clinical settings, generally not classified as benign or malignant because most hemangiomas are benign without malignant variants. Therefore, for patients diagnosed with hemangiomas, surgical removal may be considered if there is an impact on function or aesthetic appearance. Typically, treatment options for hemangiomas include surgical removal, the application of local sclerosing agents, or practices such as embolization. This is particularly true for visceral organs, such as liver and spleen hemangiomas, where interventional embolization can be utilized, yielding satisfactory results with minimal damage.
Will a hemangioma change color when pressed?
Hemangiomas fade when pressed and quickly redden upon release, suggesting the presence of a hemangioma. Hemangiomas are benign tumors that may grow as the body grows and can be observed over time without immediate treatment. For cosmetic reasons, treatment options include cryotherapy, laser treatment, or injection of a sclerosing agent. For smaller hemangiomas, laser treatment is recommended due to its relatively minimal harm to the body.
Why do children develop hemangiomas?
Pediatric hemangiomas are strictly considered a benign condition within vascular malformations. There are various causes, often due to arteriovenous malformations in children during prenatal development, especially due to abnormal proliferation of blood vessel cells during embryonic development, resulting in hemangiomas after birth. As the child ages, the hemangioma tends to grow larger. Additionally, some hemangiomas are caused by trauma in children. During this period, children's skin and mucous membranes are relatively delicate, leading to hemangiomas due to local stimulation of the capillaries by injuries. Therefore, it is best to classify hemangiomas through examination at a reputable hospital. If the hemangioma is located in a particularly sensitive area, early intervention and treatment are necessary.
Will hemangiomas in children regress?
Hemangiomas in children may regress, but the likelihood is relatively low. Hemangiomas are a congenital vascular malformation and usually do not have a severe impact on the child's health. However, if the hemangioma is located in more visible areas such as the head, face, neck, or arms, it can affect the child's appearance. Moreover, if the hemangioma grows large, it may also rupture, posing a risk to health. It is recommended to observe the hemangioma if there are no related symptoms initially. If the child is around five or six years old and the hemangioma has not regressed, consider consulting a reputable hospital for surgical treatment.
Causes and Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas
Infantile hemangiomas are usually caused by congenital factors, and the pathogenesis and specific causes of hemangiomas are not very clear at the moment. Since there is a certain possibility that infantile hemangiomas can heal on their own, if the hemangioma's location is not very noticeable and not particularly significant, it is advisable to initially observe it. If the hemangioma has not healed on its own by the time the child turns five, consideration can be given to treat it with sclerosing injections or through surgery. If the hemangioma is located in an internal organ and does not severely affect the child's health under normal circumstances, it could still be quite dangerous if it bursts. Therefore, parents should give it enough attention.
What should I do if there is a hemangioma on my tongue?
Hemangioma is a benign tumor that occurs in blood vessels, and the specific etiology and pathogenesis are not clear clinically. The tongue is a common site for hemangiomas. For hemangiomas on the tongue, it is necessary to comprehensively assess based on the type of hemangioma, location, depth of tissue invasion, the proximity to surrounding tissues, and the patient’s own physical condition, among other factors, to determine the most beneficial treatment method. Currently, the clinical treatments for hemangiomas include surgical treatment, radiation therapy, local sclerotherapy, laser treatment, or pharmacotherapy. Currently, there is no single clinical method that can completely treat all types of hemangiomas. For hemangiomas on the tongue that do not affect the overall function of the tongue, conservative treatment can be considered. For hemangiomas that have caused tongue ulcers, medication can be given to protect the mucous membrane of the tongue and promote faster healing of the ulcers.
How is hemangioma treated?
Currently, common methods used for the treatment of hemangiomas include medication, laser therapy, and surgical treatment. There is no single method that can treat all types of hemangiomas. The choice of treatment should be based on factors such as the type, location, depth of the tumor, and the patient's age. Common methods include surgical removal, radiation therapy, cryosurgery, sclerotherapy injections, and laser treatment. The principles of treatment are: first, to prevent or treat serious life-threatening and functional complications; second, to prevent deformities or facial defects after the regression of the hemangioma; third, to prevent ulcers and infections, and for patients who have ulcers, to promote ulcer healing, reduce scarring, and alleviate pain; fourth, to reduce the psychological stress on the child and their family; fifth, to avoid overtreatment of lesions that can regress on their own and have a good prognosis.