How to determine if a hemangioma is regressing

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on February 06, 2025
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Clinically, hemangiomas are a type of benign tumor that mostly require medication, surgery, or local treatments to regress. In rare cases, hemangiomas can regress spontaneously, especially when they are small and the underlying cause of the hemangioma has been removed. Then, the color of the hemangioma may change from its original dark red to a bright red, and gradually change to a color similar to that of normal skin, indicating that the hemangioma has regressed. Clinically, depending on the impact of the hemangioma on the patient, treatment options can include medication, local microwave therapy, laser treatments, or surgical removal.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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Is hemangioma in children easy to treat?

The treatment of hemangiomas is relatively simple, involving surgical removal, with generally good prognosis. Hemangiomas in children can be categorized into two types: true hemangiomas and vascular malformations. True hemangiomas include a rapid growth phase, a rest phase, and an involution phase. Therefore, if a child has a true hemangioma, it is possible that it will regress naturally, and parents do not need to be overly anxious about treatment. The second type is vascular malformations, which do not have a clear proliferative phase, resting phase, or regression phase, and usually exist from birth. If not treated, it is very likely to persist throughout life; however, it can be treated with surgery and the use of sclerosing agents among other methods.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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Can hemangiomas be left untreated?

Hemangiomas on the head and face, and those around the eyes, tend to invade the eyeballs or cause complications such as glaucoma. Hemangiomas in the parotid gland area can compress or damage the facial nerve, leading to facial paralysis. Nasal hemangiomas may block the nasal passages, causing deformities of the nostrils. Lip hemangiomas, due to friction from sucking or eating, are prone to rupture causing deformities of the lip; ear hemangiomas, because of poor blood circulation, are prone to infection after rupture. Hemangiomas on the limbs and body, due to the rapid growth of some, can invade muscle tissue, bones, or joints, causing local pain and, in severe cases, joint deformities and other functional symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to treat hemangiomas.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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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.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Can people with hemangioma drink alcohol?

Hemangiomas are benign tumors of the blood vessels. It is advisable for patients with hemangiomas to abstain from alcohol, as drinking is a harmful stimulus. Prolonged alcohol consumption can lead to hardening of the vessels, which may easily cause rupture and bleeding of the hemangiomas, leading to adverse consequences. Therefore, once hemangiomas are detected, it is recommended to reduce or avoid alcohol consumption. Although hemangiomas are generally benign tumors and often do not cause significant damage to the body, some hemangiomas, due to their specific growth location and size, can sometimes lead to rupture and bleeding or affect bodily functions, thereby significantly impacting the quality of life. Such cases may require active surgical treatment, administration of sclerosing agents, or certain medications and physical therapies.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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Will hemangiomas resolve on their own?

Pediatric hemangiomas are relatively common congenital disorders in pediatric surgery, frequently found on the face, body surface, and limbs. They appear as red or purplish-red protruding lumps with clear boundaries. These lumps do not blanch when pressed, grow in size with the child's growth and development. Clinically, pediatric hemangiomas are categorized into capillary hemangiomas, cavernous hemangiomas, and racemose hemangiomas. Capillary hemangiomas in children often disappear on their own within one to two years, while cavernous and racemose hemangiomas usually require surgical treatment. Thus, it is said that pediatric capillary hemangiomas can regress spontaneously.