How is hemangioma treated?

Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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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 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 Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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What should I do if a child has a hemangioma on their foot?

The child has a hemangioma on their foot, and parents can temporarily observe it as some hemangiomas may heal on their own, so there is no need to rush into treatment. Moreover, a hemangioma on the foot usually does not affect the child's health, as it is neither itchy nor painful, and it does not affect the appearance either. If the hemangioma grows very rapidly, and it has not receded by the time the child is five years old, consider using injections of sclerosing agents or surgical treatment options to remove the hemangioma. If the hemangioma is small and not growing rapidly, parents may not need to undertake any special treatment, as a hemangioma on the foot does not affect the body nor does it impact appearance.

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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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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 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.