Table of contents:
- Definition
- What is a hemangioma?
- How common is a hemangioma?
- Is a hemangioma dangerous?
- Type
- What are the types of hemangiomas?
- Capillary hemangioma
- Cavernous hemangioma
- Mixed hemangioma
- Lobular capillary hemangioma (pyogenic granuloma)
- Hemangioma in infants
- Hemangiomas of muscles, bones and internal organs
- Signs & symptoms
- What are the signs and symptoms of a hemangioma?
- Can the hemangioma enlarge?
- When should I see a doctor?
- Cause
- What causes hemangioma?
- Risk factors
- What increases my risk for hemangioma?
- Complications
- What problems or complications can a hemangioma cause?
- Affects organ function
- Wounds and ulcers
- Can a hemangioma leave an imprint on the skin?
- Medicines & Medicines
- What are my treatment options for hemangioma?
- Diagnosis
- What are the usual tests to diagnose a hemangioma?
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- Biopsy
- Home remedies
- What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat hemangiomas?
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Definition
What is a hemangioma?
Hemangioma is a benign tumor caused by the growth of blood vessels. which is not normal. Generally, this condition is congenital in the form of a red lump or is often called strawberry mark .
Lumps can appear on any part of the body, but are usually found on the scalp, face, chest, or back, with varying sizes for each person.
These lumps usually appear when the baby is still in the womb or when the baby is a few weeks old, and disappear on their own as they grow older.
How common is a hemangioma?
Hemangioma is a very common condition and is often found in patients of any age, but usually occurs in the early stages of the baby's birth.
As many as one third of cases showed that the lump was visible from birth. In some other cases, the lump does not appear immediately when the baby is born, but will appear when the baby is four to six weeks old.
Is a hemangioma dangerous?
This condition is usually harmless and will slowly disappear as the patient ages. Even the lumps that result from hemangiomas do not contain cells that have the potential to become cancerous.
Medical treatment is generally not required, but in some cases where the lump causes problems such as visual, respiratory, and digestive problems, the patient may need serious treatment.
Type
What are the types of hemangiomas?
The condition called dnegan strawberry mark This is formed due to the growth of blood vessels that are not normal and cause a lump. There are several types and characteristics, the most commonly found are as follows:
Capillary hemangioma
This is the type that occurs the most. The capillary type is made up of the smallest collection of blood vessels (capillaries) and is held together by thin connective tissues. Generally, this type looks prominent and is bright red because of its location close to the surface of the skin.
Cavernous hemangioma
In contrast to capillaries, the cavernous type is formed from larger and wider blood vessels. When it first appears, the shape looks like dark blue under the skin because it is deeper. The size and location on the body also varies.
Mixed hemangioma
In some cases, there are lumps that are a mixture of capillary and cavernous types.
Lobular capillary hemangioma (pyogenic granuloma)
The shape is slightly different from other types. This type is in the form of small, red bumps that usually appear on the hands, arms, and face. Because there are many blood vessels in the lump, the lobular capillaries bleed more easily than other types.
This type is also sometimes referred to as a "pregnancy tumor" because it usually appears during pregnancy.
Hemangioma in infants
Hemangioma is a condition that most often occurs in infants. Generally, lumps have been seen since the newborn, but often new lumps appear when the baby is a few weeks or months old. The type most commonly experienced by newborns is capillary, although cavernous and mixed types are also present in some cases.
The bumps on a baby's skin usually get bigger quickly in the first year, then will then get smaller on their own. The time it takes from the appearance to the size of the lump in babies varies, but usually the lump will stop getting smaller when the child reaches puberty.
Hemangiomas of muscles, bones and internal organs
Hemangioma lumps do not appear only on the skin. In some cases, this condition can also occur in other parts of the body, including muscles, bones and internal organs.
- Intramuscular hemangioma
This type develops in muscle tissue, and is usually a capillary hemangioma. Because it is located in the muscle, sometimes the lump will be painful and requires special treatment.
- Bone hemangioma
Generally found in the spine or head frame, and often occurs in patients aged 50 to 70 years. The most common types of bone hemangioma are capillary and cavernous.
- Hemangioma of internal organs
Although very rare, hemangiomas can also develop in organs in the body, such as the liver and intestines.
Signs & symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of a hemangioma?
Hemangiomas usually appear in infants. There are red areas on the skin, usually on the face, chest, or back. Over time, reddish marks will rapidly develop into bumps on the skin.
This lump is tender and painless to the touch, but other types of hemangiomas have different signs. The cavernous type looks like a blue bruise in the skin, whereas the lobular capillaries are thin bumps that are more prone to injury. This condition usually disappears with age.
In certain situations where the lump grows on an internal organ, signs and symptoms may include:
- nausea
- gag
- loss of weight
- loss of appetite
- discomfort in the stomach
There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.
Can the hemangioma enlarge?
The size of the lump varies from case to case, but will usually increase in size and then shrink on its own, especially in cases of hemangioma in infants. The following are the phases of its growth that are most often encountered:
- In the age range of 0 to 12 months, the lump will get bigger quickly. It has a more prominent texture and is bright red in color.
- When the baby is 1-2 years old, the lump will not experience any changes.
- After entering the second year, it starts to shrink in size. In 50% of the cases studied, the tumors disappeared when the child was five years old, but sometimes the new tumors disappeared when the child was ten years old.
When should I see a doctor?
This disease can be detected through tests or diagnosis. If the lump starts to bleed, causes pain or signs of severe swelling, consult a doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.
Cause
What causes hemangioma?
Based on the type, hemangioma has different causes, although until now the trigger is still not known with certainty.
There is no evidence to suggest that the food and drugs consumed, as well as the activities of the mother during pregnancy, can affect their appearance at birth.
However, experts believe that genetic factors have an influence on blood vessel growth anomalies. Several studies support the hypothesis that estrogen also plays a role in hemangioma development.
Risk factors
What increases my risk for hemangioma?
There are many factors that increase the risk of suffering from this disease, namely:
- You are a woman. Female sex is proven to be more at risk of developing this disease than men.
- Your child was born prematurely.
- White babies are more at risk of being born with this condition than black babies.
Complications
What problems or complications can a hemangioma cause?
Although generally harmless and will go away on their own, as many as 25% of cases of this disease result in complications that need special treatment.
Its presence in both the skin and internal organs may interfere with the function of the surrounding organs. If the lump grows near the eye area, then your vision will be problematic. Other areas to watch out for are the mouth and genital area.
Swollen skin is at risk of getting injured and causing ulcers. This of course causes discomfort, especially in infants and children. If not treated promptly, these ulcers can cause infection.
Can a hemangioma leave an imprint on the skin?
Each person is different in shape and size, and of course has a different end result after shrinking. There are several areas of the skin that are easier to leave marks because they have low elasticity, such as the nose, lips, forehead, and ears.
Medicines & Medicines
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
What are my treatment options for hemangioma?
As previously explained, this condition tends to disappear with age, so doctors usually will not provide special treatment which will actually have side effects on the skin.
However, if the lump begins to affect the body's health and ability to perform activities, the doctor can provide several types of treatment:
- Beta blocker medication or beta blockers (with timolol as the main treatment) as a gel and applied to the skin. However, this type of drug can increase the risk of high blood pressure, high glucose and wheezing.
- Corticosteroid drugs are an alternative to beta blocker drugs. This medication can be given by injection, pill or skin cream. This drug works to reduce the growth of hemangiomas and stop inflammation.
- In addition to the drugs above, the doctor will also usually prescribe anti-inflammatory medication, which is aimed at vital areas such as the nose, lips, and eyelids.
- Lasers can be used to remove lumps, relieve aches, and pains.
In some cases, the patient may also choose surgery to remove the lump. However, this procedure also comes with certain risks and complications. We recommend that you consult with your doctor first to find out what actions need to be taken and in accordance with the condition of your body.
Diagnosis
What are the usual tests to diagnose a hemangioma?
Generally, this disease can be recognized by being seen directly by a doctor. However, because there are many types of lumps on the skin with different characteristics, it is not uncommon for further investigation to be necessary for diagnosis.
To find out if you have a tumor lump in deeper parts of the body, you will need an x-ray or CT scan.
Not much different from a CT scan, this procedure is done to locate the lump that is on the inside of the skin. With an MRI scan, the doctor can also clearly check the structure of the lump.
There are times when hemangiomas are difficult to distinguish from other types of tumors, so a biopsy procedure may be performed. Through a biopsy, tissue from the lump will be taken and examined directly in order to get a more accurate examination result.
Home remedies
What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat hemangiomas?
Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with the condition:
- Get to know the conditions and treatments available
- Discuss with your doctor before doing treatment to overcome it
If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.