Hemangioma – Symptoms And Causes
Discuss briefly hemangioma.
Answer. Hemangioma is a benign tumor containing hyperplastic endothelium with cellular proliferation with increased mast cells.
Hemangioma Classification
Capillary hemangioma:
- Salmon patch
- Strawberry hemangioma
- Port-wine stain.
Cavernous hemangioma.
Hemangioma Clinical Features
- It is the most common tumor in children.
- It has biphasic growth showing initial rapid growth with gradual involution over 5 to 7 years.
- It is more common in girls.
- It is commonly seen in skin and subcutaneous tissue but can occur anywhere in the body like the liver, brain, lungs, and other organs.
- It grows rapidly in the first year and 70% is involved in 7 years.
- The early proliferative lesion is bright red and irregular; the deep lesion is bluish-colored. Involution causes color fading, softness, and shrinkage leaving a crepe paper-like area.
- Commonly it is central; common in the head and neck region.
- Often large hemangiomas may be associated with visceral anomalies. Head and neck hemangioma is associated with ocular and intracranial anomalies; sacral with spinal dysraphism.
- Multiple cutaneous hemangiomas may be associated with hemangioma of the liver causing hepatomegaly, cardiac failure (CCF), and anemia.
- Ulceration, bleeding, airway block, and visual disturbances are common complications.
- A definite even though rare, but important life-threatening complication is platelet trapping and severe thrombocytopenia presenting as ecchymosis, petechiae, intracranial hemorrhage, and massive gastrointestinal bleed.
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