Hemangiomas and Vascular Tumors

Vascular tumors are noncancerous tumors made up of blood vessels. As the small vessels begin to multiply at an abnormal rate, they form into a mass or lumps.

Hemangiomas represent the most common examples of vascular tumors, and they typically occur on the surface of the skin or just beneath it, affecting the face and neck. The growth of a hemangioma will vary greatly from patient to patient resulting in hemangiomas of different colors, sizes, and shapes. Theses masses typically become visible during the first few weeks of a child’s life and will often diminish in size and color over time.

Surgical intervention for vascular tumors is often required if they cause problems with vision, breathing, or eating. In addition to causing functional issues, some hemangiomas can be disfiguring, and will require plastic surgery to achieve the best cosmetic results.

Common types of vascular tumors are:

• Hemangiomas
• Hemangiomatosis
• Congenital hemangiomas
• Other vascular tumors, which include kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) in children, tufted angioma (TA), pyogenic granuloma, congenital melanocytic nevus, and spider angiomas