Vascular lesions/Haemangiomas/Angiomas

What are Vascular lesions/Haemangiomas/Angiomas?

Vascular lesions are abnormalities in blood vessels, including veins, arteries, and capillaries, that can be either congenital or acquired.

Subtypes include haemangiomas, which are benign tumors composed of blood vessels often appearing as red or purple marks on the skin, and angiomas, a broader category encompassing benign growths such as cherry angiomas (small, red, dome-shaped lesions) and spider angiomas (central red spots with radiating blood vessels).

Types of Vascular lesions/Haemangiomas/Angiomas

There are different types of vascular lesions including:
1

Haemangiomas

Infantile Haemangiomas:

  • Symptoms: Red or purple raised lesions on the skin, typically appearing within the first few weeks of life. They may grow rapidly before gradually shrinking.
  • Characteristics: Usually benign and self-resolving, but can occasionally cause complications if located near vital structures.

Cavernous Haemangiomas:

  • Symptoms: Blue or purple spongy masses under the skin, often deeper than infantile haemangiomas.
  • Characteristics: Can cause pain or functional impairment depending on their size and location.
2

Angiomas

Cherry Angiomas:

  • Symptoms: Small, bright red, dome-shaped lesions on the skin, commonly found on the trunk and limbs.
  • Characteristics: Typically asymptomatic and benign; they may bleed if scratched.

Spider Angiomas:

  • Symptoms: Central red spot with radiating blood vessels, resembling a spider’s web, often found on the face, neck, and upper body.
  • Characteristics: Generally benign but may be associated with liver disease or hormonal changes.
3

Port-Wine Stains (Capillary Malformations)

  • Symptoms: Flat, pink, red, or purple birthmarks that typically appear on the face, arms, or legs.
  • Characteristics: Permanent and may darken over time; can be associated with syndromes such as Sturge-Weber.
4

Venous Malformations

  • Symptoms: Soft, compressible blue masses, often becoming more prominent with age.
  • Characteristics: Can cause pain, swelling, and functional impairment depending on size and location.
5

Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)

  • Symptoms: Pulsatile masses, skin warmth, and overlying skin color changes; may cause pain or bleeding.
  • Characteristics: Abnormal connections between arteries and veins, potentially leading to serious complications like bleeding or heart issues.

Treatment Options

There is a spectrum of size, shape and depth of vascular lesions of which each subtype may require a different treatment strategy. At Cathedral Dermatology we can treat small and superficial haemangiomas on the skin with surgery or cautery, however, if a lesion requires further complex treatment or laser, our team will recommend the relevant specialists for you to see for treatments that we do not provide at the clinic.

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