Capillary hemangioma: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

After the birth of a child, young mothers have a lot of worries, but even more worry about the baby's health. And when an ugly red spot appears on the smooth, clean skin of a baby, many begin to panic. To the touch, it is defined as a thickening on the skin of an implicitly shaped shape.

There is another variant of the development of events, when, at birth, new formations are merely imperceptible spots or a light pink blot.
But in the first six months they are rapidly developing to a fairly large tumor.

If, at the touch of such a spot, it at first pale, and then becomes even more bleeding, know that your child has a capillary hemangioma. In order to understand what to do next - to beat all bells or calm down and wait for the self-resolution of the problem - it is necessary to understand what the hemangioma threatens the child's health.

What is hemangioma?

Capillary hemangioma is a clot of dilated vessels, between which are also cavities filled with blood. Most often this formation occurs on the head or neck and has a superficial location. But there is also internal hemangioma, which can be on organs with good blood supply, such as the liver, brain, kidneys and others.

In fact, it is a tumor, fortunately, benign, which can both dissolve itself and grow into a large education that threatens the health of the child. Therefore, to monitor its state is necessary throughout its existence.

Capillary hemangioma in newborns Can begin to develop in utero, and then the baby is already born with neoplasm. And it may appear in the first three months after birth. The first half a year the tumor develops rapidly, sometimes reaching a rather large size, after which its growth slows down. In most cases, after a year, the reverse process begins, leading to the complete or partial disappearance of education.

The most dangerous are tumors located on internal organs, such as capillary hemangioma of the liver and brain.

Hemangioma on the skin

Capillary hemangioma in newborns on the skin, if it does not interfere with normal life of the child, as a rule, in the early years is not treated, but only observed.

Usual Hemangioma Consists of capillaries of the dermis and does not extend to the underlying layers of the skin. Do not worry too early if the formation is small and pale red. As a rule, such tumors dissolve without a trace till 5-7 years, and more often even earlier. In rare cases, capillary Hemangioma can last until puberty and during the hormonal leap discolor or completely disappear.

Cases requiring medical attention

Pay close attention to the disease is in the following cases:

- If the capillary hemangioma (photo below) Begins to bleed and give the child an inconvenience. - There is too active growth of the tumor, which begins to spread to neighboring areas of the skin.

- If hemangioma interferes with unobstructed breathing, eating or swallowing, even in case of its constant size, it is necessary to consult a doctor for treatment. The same applies to cases with a tumor on the eyelids, in the auricles or lips.

- Rarely, but there are cases when the capillary hemangioma in a child is located in the groin or armpits, that is, in places where it experiences constant friction. This can lead to its damage, and consequently, to bleeding, so with this variant of the disease, timely treatment is also necessary.

Tumor on internal organs

Capillary hemangioma of the liver is an extremely dangerous formation, since it has no external manifestations or symptoms. However, the consequences of its rupture can lead to death. As a rule, the hemangioma is detected in case of accidental diagnosis of another disease.

In the spleen, the neoplasm is very rare, but its rupture can also lead to unpleasant consequences. In rare cases, its existence can be signaled by pain in the left hypochondrium.

Capillary-cavernous hemangioma in different parts of the brain can lead to unreasonable headaches, sleep disorders and anxiety. The rupture of such a tumor causes cerebral hemorrhage, which leads to a fatal outcome.

Hemangioma is dangerous not only in cases when it poses a threat to life, but also if it significantly interferes with the normal functioning of the body. Neoplasms on the nasal mucosa, eyelid, in the ear can lead to frustration of the work of these organs.

Diagnosis of neoplasms

Capillary hemangioma of the skin is determined by visual inspection. If at birth it looks like a small dot on the child's body, then in a couple of months it can be a fairly large protruding spot with a smooth surface. If we look at it close, we see a picture resembling a vascular asterisk.

The main feature is the change in color from bright to pale when pressed. Parents can do this themselves, but to determine the diagnosis the child should be examined by a doctor. Cases when capillary hemangioma is combined with cavernous, which is more dangerous to health, are quite common.

Also, in appearance, capillary hemangioma can be confused with less harmless skin diseases, such as squamous cell carcinoma or cyst. Therefore, you should not rely on your own opinion.

Capillary hemangioma on the internal organs in most cases is found during the examination for another disease, since she usually does not give obvious symptoms. There may be various painful sensations, but, certainly, to connect them with the presence of a hemangioma on this or that organ without preliminary examination it is impossible.

What is dangerous hemangioma?

Capillary hemangioma is most often a cosmetic defect that passes through a certain period of time. But in cases of incomplete oppression, such a defect in appearance, especially on visible parts of the body, can lead to psychological problems.

The presence of neoplasm promotes the appearance of a significant number of thrombi. Then, if the tumor is large enough, it leads to poor blood clotting.

Hemangiomas, located in the inguinal or other areas with increased traumatism, are most often damaged, and this is fraught with the appearance of non-healing sores.

Capillary hemangioma can be combined with a cavernous type, while the upper part of the tumor looks like a normal harmless formation, and the more dangerous one can be detected only after a subsequent examination.

How is education treated?

The decision on the need for treatment is made by observing the behavior of the tumor, as well as on the basis of hemangioma tests. For the beginning determine the belonging of the neoplasm and exclude other diseases.

After that, for some time, changes in size, shape and color are recorded and conservative or surgical treatment is prescribed for indications.

In any case, before the start of the second month of life, no intervention, including surgery, is taken to develop the tumor. As a rule, the operations are carried out at 3, 6 and 12 months. If possible, try to prescribe treatment conservatively, and surgical intervention is used in extreme cases.

Unfortunately, there is no medical method of treatment, the only option is the hormone intake, but this method is unsuitable due to the negative impact on the body, especially the child.

Conservative methods for the removal of hemangioma

For the smallest formations - up to 5 mm - the most gentle method of elimination - electrocoagulation is used. The hemangioma is acted upon by an electric current, so that the tumor tissue coagulates, forming a crust. Subsequently, it disappears, leaving clean skin.

For smaller formations, the cryotherapy method is used. The hemangioma is covered with snow from carbon dioxide, which acts on the tumor, pressing it into the skin. After the procedure, the following metamorphoses occur with formation: the place swells, then swells with a bubble, then a crust forms, which subsequently falls off.

Alternative ways to eliminate the tumor

For subcutaneous tumors or formations on the internal organs resort to radiation therapy. Such a method is extremely dangerous for the health of newborns, so they apply it only in case of emergency and only after reaching the age of six months.

There is another way to remove such a tumor as hemangioma capillary. Treatment is carried out with the help of injections of urethane on an alcohol basis. This method is used if the tumor is located in a hard-to-reach place, for example in the auricle or in the oral cavity, or in contraindications to a surgical procedure.

Recently, a more modern method has appeared, such as laser removal of a tumor. To date, this is the most effective way to solve the problem, which is also used in the case of combined hemangioma.

Surgical removal

For very large tumors, especially if the capillary hemangioma rapidly progresses, surgical excision of the formation is performed. The procedure is rather painful, implying not only the removal of the tumor, but also a skin transplant from another part of the body to the site of the operated hemangioma. In addition, in excision, a lot of blood is lost, so this method of treatment is prescribed to children only in exceptional cases. In this case, possible cosmetic defects after the operation are taken into account.

How to prevent the appearance of hemangioma?

Unfortunately, for today it is impossible to say exactly why a tumor such as capillary hemangioma is formed: the reasons for the appearance of this trouble have not yet been determined. Experts can only guess what factors can become a trigger.

• First of all, prematureness is called, since the appearance of hemangiomas is registered, as a rule, in such children, and mainly in girls.
• Heredity is also considered an aggravating factor.
• In the case of Rhesus-conflict in the mother, which, in principle, provokes a lot of problems.
• Diseases of the mother, such as a violation of the hormonal background or catarrhal symptoms during the development of the cardiovascular system of the baby.
• Abusing the mother with alcohol, smoking, and taking medication.
• Stress during pregnancy.

Of course, heredity can not be avoided, but other factors can be prevented. 100% guarantee that this disease does not manifest itself, of course, not, but in any case, such prevention will definitely benefit both your health and the health of your child.