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

• Venous Malformation
• VH (Venous Hemangioma)

What is Venous Hemangioma? (Definition/Background Information)

• A Venous Hemangioma (VH) is a rare, benign tumor involving the blood vessels, where the mass of vessels are present with thick, fibrous, muscular walls
• VH is normally found in the limbs of adults. They may also occur as birthmarks in children
• An individual may experience a painful mass at the site, while some may be asymptomatic
• A complete surgical removal of the lesion is the treatment of choice. The prognosis is excellent when the lesions are removed entirely

Who gets Venous Hemangioma? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• Venous Hemangioma are rare tumors usually found in adults
• Both males and females are affected
• Due to rarity of the tumor, there is not much information on ethnic or racial predisposition

What are the Risk Factors for Venous Hemangioma? (Predisposing Factors)

• The risk factors of Venous Hemangioma are currently unknown
• Rarely, these tumors can run in families, as an autosomal dominant disorder

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Venous Hemangioma? (Etiology)

• The exact cause of formation of Venous Hemangioma (VH) is presently unknown
• It is suggested that VH origin is related to abnormal blood vessel proliferations arising from unknown mechanisms

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Venous Hemangioma?

The signs and symptoms of Venous Hemangioma include:

• The tumors grow at a slow rate and may be found just below the skin surface, or deep inside the body
• Swelling may be felt due to a soft tumor mass, which reflects the increased tangled proliferation of veins  distended with blood
• The most common locations of VH are the limbs. Some of these tumors have been observed at other locations, as in the throat and abdomen
• They can also occur in muscle, joints, and bones - if they involve the joints, it can cause fluid accumulation within the joint, called joint effusions
• Occasionally, Venous Malformations of the bones cause bony deformities
• Tumors on the skin surface may appear as birthmarks in children

How is Venous Hemangioma Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of Venous Hemangioma may involve:

• Physical exam with evaluation of medical history
• Radiographic studies (such as angiography) of the affected region - some of the tumors may show calcification on such radiographic studies. Such calcifications are termed  phleboliths
• MRI scan based on location of the tumor mass
• Histopathological studies conducted on a biopsy specimen - the specimen is examined under a microscope by a pathologist, to arrive at a definitive diagnosis
• In some cases, a differential diagnosis may be considered, in order to eliminate other hemangioma types

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Venous Hemangioma?

The complications of Venous Hemangioma may include:

• Recurrence of VH after surgery, if they are deep-seated (lesions observed just below the skin surfaces generally do not recur)
• Blood loss during invasive treatment methods may be heavy
• Damage of nerves and surrounding structures during surgery

How is Venous Hemangioma Treated?

Venous Hemangiomas may be treated as:

• If the tumor mass is small and cause no symptoms, then non-operative measures are adopted; periodic observation is maintained
• Embolization can be used to provide temporary relief from the symptoms and reduce blood loss during a surgical procedure
• Sclerotherapy can be considered, which is a less invasive technique than surgery and may benefit a majority of the patients
• Radiofrequency ablation: In this technique  radio frequency waves are used to destroy the blood vessels. This technique is used in vascular hemangiomas, which show low blood flow, as determined by vascular radiological studies such as angiography and Doppler studies
• Wide surgical excision of Venous Hemangioma and removal of the entire lesion is the treatment of choice. If the tumor is not fully removed, it may recur
• Use of laser surgery may help control bleeding, compared to non-laser traditional surgical methods
• When VH is at an inaccessible location, or is unsafe for surgical intervention; the use of injected or systemic corticosteroids or cryotherapy may be considered
• Post-operative care is important: A minimum activity level is necessary until the surgical wound heals
• Follow-up care with regular screening and check-ups are important

How can Venous Hemangioma be Prevented?

Current medical research has not established a method of preventing Venous Hemangioma.

What is the Prognosis of Venous Hemangioma? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

• The prognosis of Venous Hemangioma is generally very good, when the lesions are small. The recurrence risk is small, when the tumors are removed from skin locations
• Sometimes, it is medically challenging and risky to remove tumors located deep inside the body. Such tumors may recur, if they are incompletely removed

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Venous Hemangioma :

Based upon the size of the vascular spaces, hemangiomas are classified as:

• Venous
• Capillary
• Cavernous
• Racemose

Some researchers consider Venous Hemangioma to be the same as cavernous hemangioma.