What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Hemangioma of the Urogenital System

What is Hemangioma of the Genitourinary System? (Definition/Background Information)

• Hemangiomas are benign accumulations of blood vessels, which can occur in several tissues of the body
• Hemangioma of the Genitourinary System is a rare benign tumor of the genitourinary tract; the genitourinary or urogenital system includes the urinary and genital organs
• The tumor is especially noted in the kidney, apart from the urinary bladder, testis, spermatic cord, and extremely rarely in the prostate gland
• The most common hemangioma type noted is the anastomosing hemangioma (particularly in the kidney); in the urinary bladder, it is mostly the cavernous type. Other types noted include the capillary hemangioma

Incidence:

• Affects all age groups, but mostly adults
• Average age is 50 years for kidney tumors (with male predominance)
• All races and ethnic groups are at risk

Risk factors:

In many cases, Hemangioma of the Genitourinary System develops against a background of genetic disorders such as:

• Sturge-Weber syndrome
• Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome

Cause:

• The cause of tumor formation is unknown
• Studies have shown that anastomosing hemangiomas present point mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, or GNA14 genes affecting the MAPK signaling pathway

Signs and symptoms:

• The tumors can arise in a variety of anatomical locations including the kidney, urinary bladder, testis, spermatic cord, and prostate
• Depending on the location of the tumor the signs and symptoms vary
• In general, anastomosing hemangiomas do not present any signs and symptoms
• In urinary bladder, blood in urine (hematuria) and difficulty/discomfort urinating
• In kidney, hematuria and back pain
• Kidney tumors average around 2 cm, some grow to 7.5 cm; bilateral tumors in kidneys are also seen
• Most urinary bladder hemangiomas are less than 1 cm at diagnosis

Diagnosis: Some tumors are detected incidentally.

• Blood and urine tests
• Radiological studies
  • Ultrasound of abdomen
  • CT and MRI scan of abdomen
• Tissue biopsy of the tumor mass can help achieve a definitive diagnosis:

Over 67% of kidney hemangiomas are found incidentally while undertaking studies for other kidney conditions causing impaired kidney function including end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

Complications:

• Emotional stress
• Large-sized tumors may compress adjoining tissues and structures resulting in additional complications
• Ulceration and bleeding, which can rarely be life-threatening
• Incomplete removal results in tumor recurrence

Treatment:

• Treatment depends on the location and the size of the tumor
• The healthcare provider may recommend a ‘wait and watch’ approach for small-sized tumors
• A complete surgical resection of the tumor is usually curative. It is normally undertaken when significant symptoms are observed

Prevention: Presently, it is not possible to prevent the formation of Hemangioma of the Genitourinary System.

Prognosis:

• The prognosis is typically good with adequate treatment, since it is a benign tumor
• Some tumors may exhibit infiltrative growth pattern