Hemangioma excision

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Hemangioma excision

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Hemangioma excision

Definition:

A hemangioma is a non-cancerous blood vessel growth. Excision is surgery to remove it.

Alternative Names:

Birthmark excision

Description:

While the patient is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia), the hemangioma is removed. If the hemangioma was large, the site may be covered with a skin graft.

Indications:

Hemangiomas are the most common benign (non-cancerous) blood vessel growths in infants and children. Most go away with time, and occasionally with medication.

Large hemangiomas that cause symptoms or are disfiguring may require surgical excision. Alternatively, laser treatment may be an option if the hemangioma is superficial. Some liver hemangiomas are treated by blocking their feeding arteries (embolization).

Review Date: 10/31/2005
Reviewed By: Jeremy Goverman, M.D., Department of Trauma and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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