Child has hemangioma on head

After a child is born, various birthmarks and scars may appear on his body. For example, some parents may find something like a hemangioma growing on their child’s head, which may be a birthmark. It could also be a hemangioma. Therefore, parents must take their children to the hospital for examination as soon as possible to avoid delaying the treatment of hemangioma. Hemangioma is caused by vascular diseases. Let’s take a look at what is going on if a child has a hemangioma on his head?

Clinical manifestations

1. Port-wine stain: also known as telangiectatic nevus or port-wine stain, it manifests as one or several dark red or bluish-red patches with irregular edges, not protruding above the skin surface, and easily faded when pressed. It is more common on the head and neck, often appearing at birth, and may increase in size as the body grows. Those occurring on the occipital region, forehead, or bridge of the nose may resolve on their own, while larger or extensive lesions often persist for life.

2. Capillary hemangioma: also known as strawberry nevus, it appears as one or several bright red, soft, lobed tumors that do not fade when pressed. It often occurs on the head and neck. It usually does not appear at birth, but appears within a few weeks after birth, enlarges within a few months, grows rapidly, and can even reach several centimeters. Most of them grow to their maximum size within 1 year of age and then regress on their own, disappearing completely or incompletely within a few years.

3. Cavernous hemangioma: The lesions are generally large and occur spontaneously. They occur at the site of the original capillary hemangioma or are located under the skin. They are round or irregular in shape, may be higher than the skin surface, and may be nodular or lobed. The boundaries are not clear, and the texture is soft and elastic. They are mostly light purple or purple-blue. They may shrink after squeezing. The surface skin may be normal or atrophied by adhesion to the tumor. It occurs at birth or shortly after birth, often on the scalp and face, and may involve the oral or pharyngeal mucosa.

Cavernous hemangioma may be accompanied by thrombocytopenia and purpura. It mainly occurs in infants and occasionally in adults. It is a serious type, and about 1/4 of cases die from bleeding, respiratory tract infection or malignancy.