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A hemangioma [hi-man-jee-OH-muh] is a mound of blood vessels in the body. It used to be called a “strawberry birthmark,” but it’s not a true birthmark Hemangiomas are sometimes called tumors, but are not cancer and are usually harmless.
Hemangiomas may look alarming, but are usually not dangerous to your child’s health. They often grow quickly, but get smaller later and often disappear completely.
A hemangioma that occurs near your child’s eyes, nose, mouth, or throat, may need to be treated to prevent problems with breathing, eating, or seeing.
The main symptoms of a hemangioma are:
Your child may have one or both kinds of symptoms in the same hemangioma.
Most hemangiomas are on the face and neck, but they can appear anywhere on a child’s body. Most children have only one, but in rare cases they will have several scattered around their body. In very rare cases, a child may have many hemangiomas on their face and upper body. In these cases, they may also have hemangiomas on the organs inside the body, and your child’s doctor will want to do tests to check.
Although they are rare, hemangiomas can cause some complications, including
Although most hemangiomas are not dangerous to your child, some can present health risks. Sometimes they make parents or children concerned about their appearance. If you see symptoms of hemangioma, see your child’s doctor.
If your child has already been diagnosed with a hemangioma, follow your doctor’s instructions for follow-up care. If the hemangioma starts to bleed or develops a sore, call your doctor.
Doctors are not sure what causes hemangiomas.
Some babies are at higher risk for developing hemangiomas than others. They appear three times more often in female babies than male babies. Caucasian (white) babies are more likely to get hemangiomas, as are premature babies.
Most hemangiomas can be diagnosed by a doctor during a physical exam. If the hemangioma is small, or if it isn’t located near any vital organs, no further testing may be necessary.
If your child’s doctor thinks that your child may have a buildup of blood vessels deeper inside their body, they may order a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) scan. Both these scans can create a picture of the inside of your child’s body.
A hemangioma may occur with other rare conditions. If the doctor thinks this might be the case, additional testing or a referral to a specialist may be recommended.
Most hemangiomas will not require any treatment.
Not all hemangiomas are harmless, though, especially if they occur near the eyes, nose, mouth, or throat. Also, large hemangiomas on exposed areas of the body can cause embarrassment for children, and treatment can be considered. In those cases, treatment may include:
Doctors will often use a combination of treatments, such as steroids plus laser treatment to treat both the size of a hemangioma and its surface appearance.