Hemangioma
Content
Description
A hemangioma is a benign lesion that arises from tiny blood vessels (capillaries). It appears on the skin and rarely on other organs (e.g. the liver).
It is usually present from birth and becomes apparent around 2 weeks of life. There is typically a growth phase when the size of the hemangioma increases, followed by a phase of shrinkage.
Thus, hemangiomas tend to fade and gradually disappear on their own over time. Sometimes wrinkled skin remains after them (90% of hemangiomas disappear by the age of 9).
Today, they are most often removed using a laser.
Facts
- No anesthesia
- Outpatient procedure
- Procedure takes up to 30 minutes
- Recovery within 1 day
Hemangiomas can be treated:
- Conservatively with ointments or beta-blocker drops (propranolol is used and the treatment usually lasts about 6 months), sometimes corticosteroids are given.
Or are treated:
- Laser - the hemangioma is damaged by the laser and subsequently the skin heals by the formation of connective tissue.
- Cryotherapy - the hemangioma is frozen using liquid nitrogen.
Surgical treatment is aimed at removing hemangiomas that cause functional difficulties (hemangiomas on the eyelids, near the nose, mouth).
