A hemangioma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor made up of blood vessels. There are many types of hemangiomas, and they can occur throughout the body, including in skin, muscle, bone, and internal organs. Most hemangiomas occur on the surface of the skin or just beneath it.
How is a hemangioma of the spine treated?
Treatment for hemangiomas depends on the size and location of the tumor. At UPMC, we use a combination of stopping blood flow to the tumor (embolization), surgical removal of the tumor, and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is effective in the treatment of pain caused by hemangiomas.
Is intraosseous hemangioma serious?
Intraosseous hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that account for less than 1% of all bone tumors. These rare, slow-growing tumors exhibit female predominance, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.
What causes intraosseous hemangioma?
The pathogenesis of primary intraosseous hemangioma remains unknown. The cause is considered to be congenital or traumatic, but this has not yet been proven. Trauma is considered to be the most important etiology of this tumor. The symptom is a slowly growing palpable hard mass with mild tenderness.
Is hemangioma serious?
These conditions can be life-threatening if they’re large or affect your child’s airway or another organ. A hemangioma can also be serious if it has uncontrollable bleeding. Depending on where your child’s growth is located, it may cause physical problems.
Can hemangioma be mistaken for cancer?
Hemangiomas share similar characteristics to other liver lesions, and are commonly mistaken for malignant hyper vascular tumors of the liver, such as hepatoma (hepatocellular carcinoma) and fibrolamellar carcinoma.
Does hemangioma in spine cause pain?
Symptoms of spinal hemangioma
Only 5% of people with a hemangioma have symptoms. They’re often discovered accidentally during an X-ray or other imaging test of your spine. When hemangioma symptoms do occur, they may include back pain, pain that radiates outward from your back and numbness or weakness.
Can a spinal hemangioma become malignant?
The diagnosis of vertebral hemangioma is very crucial and can be challenging in some cases. It may mimic malignant lesions in both clinical and radiological behavior [7]. Hemangiomas can be aggressive, compressing the spinal cord with paraparesis and spasticity as in our case.
Can spinal hemangioma cause paralysis?
Rarely, vertebral hemangiomas will cause compressive neurological symptoms, such as radiculopathy, myelopathy and paralysis. In these cases the clinical presentation is usually the subacute or delayed onset of progressive neurological symptoms.
Can hemangioma be removed?
Hemangiomas can be removed with surgery or by using laser treatment. Both procedures are safe and effective. In many cases laser treatment is preferable because it does not typically leave a scar. Hemangioma removal is usually covered by insurance.
Do intraosseous hemangiomas grow?
Primary intraosseous hemangiomas are slow-growing vascular malformations, usually located in the medullary cavity.
What are the two types of hemangiomas?
The two main types of infantile hemangiomas are:
Superficial hemangiomas, or cutaneous (“in-the-skin”) hemangiomas, grow on the skin surface. Deep hemangiomas grow under the skin, making it bulge, often with a blue or purple tint.
What causes hemangiomas in adults?
Hemangiomas of the skin develop when there’s an abnormal proliferation of blood vessels in one area of the body. Experts aren’t sure why blood vessels group together like this, but they believe it’s caused by certain proteins produced in the placenta during gestation (the time when you’re in the womb).
What is a hemangioma of the cervical spine?
Spinal hemangiomas are the most common primary tumor of the spine. These lesions are of vascular origin and usually involve a proliferation of normal capillary and venous structures. These are usually an incidental finding found on radiological imaging of the body and spine.
Can spinal hemangioma be caused by trauma?
Recurrent trauma is thought to induce the growth of the hemangioma by mechanical irritation, which stimulates blood flow into preexisting lesions.
When should I be worried about a hemangioma?
Contact your child’s doctor if the hemangioma bleeds, forms a sore or looks infected. Seek medical care if the condition interferes with your child’s vision, breathing, hearing or elimination.
Why are babies born with hemangiomas?
Infantile hemangiomas are made up of blood vessels that form incorrectly and multiply more than they should. These blood vessels receive signals to grow rapidly early in a baby’s life. Most infantile hemangioma will appear at birth or within the first few weeks after birth.
What hemangioma mean?
A hemangioma (hee man jee OH mah) is a common vascular birthmark, made of extra blood vessels in the skin. It is a benign (non-cancerous) growth. The exact cause is not known. Hemangiomas are typically not inherited, but others in the family may also have had them.
