HAEMANGIOMA: UPDATE Review Article

Abstract

Background: Vascular anomalies are a heterogeneous group of congenital blood vessel disorders more typically
referred to as birthmarks. Subcategorized into vascular tumors and malformations, each anomaly is characterized by
specific morphology, pathophysiology, clinical behavior, and management approach.
Diagnosis:The diagnosis of a hemangioma is best made by clinical history and physical exam. In cases of unclear
diagnosis, the best radiographic modalities to use are either a Doppler ultrasound or MRI.
Management: includes conservative, surgical, medical and minimall invasive approaches.
Conclusion: There are important clinical differences between haemangiomas and vascular malformations and adequate
differentiating between the two lesions is a must. There are different modalities to manage haemangiomas, each
modality may be used combined with another one or single according to many factors, including the natural history of
haemangioma, the size and extent of the lesion, social situations, and surgeon’s comfort or experience with any given
treatment modality. These modalities include: conservative management, Laser therapy, steroids, interferon alpha,
chemotherapy, surgery, embolization, some experimental modalities and propranolol.
Keywords: Haemangioma; Vascular malformation;treatment; Laser therapy; steroids; interferon alpha;
chemotherapy;surgery;embolization; propranolol.
Abbreviations: bFGF: basic fibroblast growth factor, FPDL; flash pulse dye laser,HBMEC: human brain
microvascular endothelial cells,GLUT1: Glucose transporter 1,KTP: potassium-titanyl-phosphate,MMP-9: Matrix
metallopeptidase 9,Nd:YAG: neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garne, NICH: noninvoluting congenital
hemangioma,PDL: Pulsed dye laser,PHACES :posterior fossa brain malformations, hemangiomas of the face, arterial
cerebrovascular anomalies, cardiovascular anomalies, eye anomalies, and sternal defects or supraumbilical
raphe,RICH: rapidly involuting congenital hemangioma,TGF-beta 1:tumour growth factor beta one, VEGF: vascular
endothelial growth factor.