Are hemangiomas dangerous?

Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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The hazards of hemangiomas include: First, they impact appearance. Most hemangiomas are located on the head and face, severely affecting one's appearance and causing great physical and emotional harm to both the patient and their family. Second, they affect function by invading surrounding tissues and impairing the normal functions of nearby organs. Third, the tumor can bleed, and severe bleeding may lead to hemorrhagic shock. Fourth, abnormal development, as the tumor compresses surrounding normal tissues, can lead to developmental disorders, affecting bone growth and causing severe deformities in limbs. Fifth, ulceration can occur when the hemangioma grows too quickly or due to friction, leading to ulcers and infections, and potentially malignant changes. Therefore, hemangiomas can be quite dangerous.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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Which department should a baby with hemangioma see?

The department for treating infantile hemangioma should be determined based on the location, size, and severity of the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is located on the surface of the body, it is generally appropriate to consult the department of plastic and cosmetic surgery. If the hemangioma is on the face, the oral medicine department should be visited. If the hemangioma is around the eyes, then the ophthalmology department should be consulted. If the hemangioma is internal or if there are other concurrent tumorous diseases, it may be necessary to visit the pediatric hematology-oncology department or the corresponding surgical department. This would be the most appropriate and correct choice.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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Is a hemangioma a tumor?

Hemangiomas are formed by the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells during embryonic development and are commonly seen in congenital benign tumors or vascular malformations of the skin and soft tissues, mostly observed at birth or shortly after birth. The residual embryonic vascular endothelial cells, active endothelial-like embryonic buds invade adjacent tissues, forming endothelial-like cords, which after canalization connect with existing blood vessels to form hemangiomas. The blood vessels within the tumor form a separate system, not connected to surrounding blood vessels. Hemangiomas can occur throughout the body; those occurring in the oral and maxillofacial regions account for 60% of all hemangiomas, followed by 25% in the trunk and 15% in the limbs. Therefore, some hemangiomas are congenital benign tumors, while others are caused by vascular malformations.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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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.

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Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
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Is a hemangioma initially a red spot?

Hemangiomas indeed start as a red dot, and as the condition worsens or the hemangioma grows, some may gradually form patch-like appearances or well-demarcated lumps that rise above the skin. A primary characteristic is that the color of the hemangioma disappears when pressed, and the skin color lightens. When the external pressure is reduced or released, the hemangioma refills with blood and turns dark red or purple-red. This characteristic is very important for the diagnosis of hemangiomas. Therefore, patients with hemangiomas must seek early and timely consultation, examination, and treatment in dermatology (cosmetic science) or surgery.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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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.