Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is now offering a monthly Pediatric Vascular Anomalies Clinic for infants and children with complex vascular anomalies.
The Clinic combines the expertise of specialists in dermatology, hematology/oncology, pathology, pediatric plastic surgery and other surgical specialties to evaluate and treat children with these difficult, often disfiguring malformations.
This multidisciplinary approach ensures the best possible outcome by uniting the unique perspectives of physicians from different backgrounds to plan the optimal treatment. Each child receives the unique, individualized care needed when managing these complicated disorders.
Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital treats over 700 children each year for vascular anomalies. Our internationally recognized team of specialists has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a range of vascular anomalies, including:
- Hemangiomas
- Arteriovenous malformations
- Lymphatic malformations
- Venous malformations
- Combined vascular malformations
What are vascular anomalies?
Vascular anomalies are any vascular malformation and
hemangiomas. A hemangioma is a type of birthmark, and the most common benign skin tumor. Hemangiomas may be present at birth as a faint red mark, or they may appear in the first few months after birth. A hemangioma is also known as a port wine stain, strawberry hemangioma, and salmon patch. About 83 percent of hemangiomas occur in the head or neck area, and they occur more often in females than males.
A vascular malformation is a congenital growth, made up of arteries, veins, capillaries, or lymphatic vessels. Though present at birth, some vascular malformations don’t show up until childhood, adolescence or even adulthood. There are several types of malformations, including venous, arterial, combined and lymphatic.
What causes them?
The cause of hemangiomas is not fully understood, but it is known that they are not related to drugs or medications that may have been taken during pregnancy. Nor are they related to any known environmental exposures that may have occurred during that time. Although no specific gene abnormality has been identified, in some families multiple members over several generations have been affected.
Most vascular malformations occur by chance, however, some are inherited. Males and females are equally affected and there is great variability in expression of the gene. In other words, a parent may unknowingly have had a hemangioma because it faded, but the child could be more severely affected.
How are they treated?
At Rainbow, we take a multi-disciplinary approach to treating vascular anomalies. Experts in the following areas work together to treat your child:
- Interventional Radiology
- Hematology/Oncology
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pathology
Hemangiomas and vascular malformation can be treated with schlerotherapy, laser therapy, drug therapy, embolization, surgery, or a combination of any of these. Whatever the treatment plan, we will make sure it meets your child’s specific needs.
Hemangioma preoperatively :: Hemangioma postoperatively
When to refer
Children with vascular malformations should be referred when the diagnosis is not clear, the lesion is growing, or special circumstances exist which impair function.
The latter include bleeding, infection, pain, obstruction of vision or airway compromise.
What we treat
The types of anomalies seen include:
• Hemangiomas
• Vascular malformations:
– Lymphatic malformation
– Arteriovenous malformations
– Venous malformations
• Combined vascular malformations
Treatments offered
Treatment options vary and a wide variety of approaches are utilized. For example, initial treatment may include steroids or embolization. Laser treatment may be utilized to involute certain vascular lesions. Some lesions will respond to interferon. Once conditions are optimized, our pediatric surgical specialists will perform resection
and reconstruction as needed.