Hemangioma treatment
Surgical treatment is used when the vascular tumor is localized too deep and it could be removed wholly without much cosmetic damage or when other methods of treatment are supposed to be ineffective.
Radiotherapy is used in complicated cases when Hemangioma is localized in areas where other methods of treatment are impossible to use (e.g. eye socket region). Radiotherapy is intended for treating simple Hemangioma, when it affects large areas of skin.
Radiotherapy is carried out by separate fractions with intervals varying from 2-4 weeks to 2-6 months. Tiny Hemangioma localized in regions inaccessible for other methods of treatment are treated with electrocoagulation. Bleeding Hemangioma are treated with electrocoagulation too.
Electrocoagulation is not used for treating deeply located and spreading types of Hemangioma.
Sclerosing is used for treating small but deeply localized vascular tumors, especially cavernous and mixed Hemangioma on the face and tip of the nose. For sclerosing a 70% alcohol is used.
The disadvantages of sclerosing therapy include painfulness and prolonged course of the treatment.
The advantage of injection therapy against other conservative methods consists in its simplicity.
One of the new methods of treatments of spreading Hemangioma in children is hormonal therapy with prednisolone. Hormonal therapy is a rather efficient method of treatment, however its high effectiveness (98%) does not provide desired cosmetic effect. This method stops the vascular tumor growth and is used as a supplemental treatment.
Cryogenic therapy (treatment with low-temperature impact) is used for simple Hemangioma of any localization. It does not require anesthesia and is carried out in the outpatient setting.
Hemangioma
Hemangioma is a benign vascular tumor very common in children.
In spite of its benign nature, Hemangioma may develop into malignant tumor.Even tiny vascular tumors in infants may reach huge sizes. Though there is a possibility of self-recovery, generally the course of this disease is unpredictable.
Simple Hemangioma is red or purple in color, well-defined and located on the surface of the skin. It grows predominantly from under its sides and affects the skin and several millimeters of subcutaneous fat. The surface of Hemangioma is usually smooth, though sometimes it could be uneven or bulging. When pressed, Hemangioma turns pale but later restores its color.
Cavernous hemangioma is located under skin in a form of a circumscribed nod. It looks like a tumor covered with bluish or unaltered skin at the top. When pressed, Hemangioma recedes and turns pale (resulting from blood outflow).
Mixed Hemangioma represents combination of surface (simple) and subcutaneous (cavernous) Hemangioma.
Mixed Hemangioma consists of tumor cells originating from vessels and other tissues. The appearance, color and consistency of Hemangioma depend on the tissues the tumor consists of.