Vascular Tumors

What are vascular tumors?

Vascular tumors are abnormal growths that can form in blood vessels or lymph vessels. Most vascular tumors in children are not cancerous (benign), but some are cancerous (malignant).

The most common type of vascular tumor in children is infantile hemangioma. This is a type of benign tumor that often goes away on its own. Other types of benign tumors in children include:

• Congenital hemangioma
• Angiofibroma
• Tufted angioma
• Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
• Epithelioid hemangioma
• Spindle cell hemangioma
• Pyogenic granuloma (also called capillary hemangioma)
• Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma
• Benign vascular tumors of the liver

Cancerous vascular tumors are rare in children. These include:

• Angiosarcoma
• Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

What are the signs and symptoms of vascular tumors?

The symptoms of vascular tumors can vary depending on the type of tumor and where it is in the body. Some symptoms in children include:

• Reddish or purple-colored mark on the skin, which may get bigger over time
• Painful reddish or brown spots on the skin
• Firm red or pink bumps that may be itchy
• Raised red spots on the skin that bleed
• Small red bumps on the face

What causes vascular tumors?

Experts do not know what causes vascular tumors.

How are vascular tumors treated?

Treatment for vascular tumors can depend on where the tumor is located and whether it is benign or cancerous. Some children may not need any treatment. Your care team at Arkansas Children's is experienced at treating all kinds of vascular tumors and will work with you to create the best treatment plan for your child. Treatment options may include:

• Beta blockers, a type of medicine that can help reduce the size of the tumor.
• Sclerotherapy, a procedure that injects a medicine into the tumor to make it shrink.
• Surgery may be used to remove the tumor or part of the tumor. There are different types of surgery, depending on the tumor and where it is located.
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be used to treat cancerous tumors.