Venous Malformations

What are venous malformations?

Venous malformations are the most common type of vascular malformation. They are veins that are not formed correctly, and grow and stretch abnormally. Venous malformations are commonly found on the skin, but they can grow anywhere on the body. They often grow as your child grows, and may get larger after surgery, trauma or puberty. A child can have one venous malformation or many.

Although venous malformations are a condition a child is born with, some children do not have symptoms for several years. Venous malformations do not go away without treatment.

What are the signs and symptoms of venous malformations?

The symptoms of venous malformations can vary depending on the where they are in the body. Some common symptoms in children include:

• One or more soft red or blue spots on the skin
• Pain or swelling
• Skin ulcers
• Joint pain
• Blood clots

What causes venous malformations?

Venous malformations develop in pregnancy. Experts do not know what causes them to grow.

How are venous malformations treated?

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

• Sclerotherapy, a procedure that injects a medicine into the malformation to make it shrink
• Compression garments, which are tight-fitting pieces of clothing that can help reduce swelling and pain in the affected area
• Blood thinning medicine to help to prevent blood clots from forming
• Sirolimus, a medicine to help control pain and the growth of the vessels
• Laser therapy to treat venous malformations on the surface of the skin
• Surgery to remove the malformation