Hemangioma
VASCULAR LESION & IMAGE-GUIDED CARE
Hemangiomas are benign vascular growths made up of extra blood vessels. Many are small and harmless, but some can cause swelling, pain, skin changes, bleeding, or organ-related symptoms depending on their size and location.
- Benign vascular growth or lesion
- Symptoms depend on size and location
- Imaging helps guide next steps
- Treatment depends on risk and symptoms
Evaluation & Next Steps
- Clear severity assessment and next steps
- Supportive care and recovery guidance
- Care across 4 Las Vegas locations
Call: (702) 703-4340
Hours: Mon–Fri: 8am–5pm
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Quick Summary
Key takeaway: A hemangioma is usually benign, but evaluation may be needed when it grows, becomes painful, bleeds, affects nearby tissue, or appears in a sensitive area.
Evaluation usually focuses on location, growth pattern, symptoms, imaging findings, and whether monitoring, specialty coordination, or image-guided treatment planning may be appropriate.
Overview
What is a Hemangioma?
A hemangioma is a cluster of extra blood vessels that forms a benign vascular lesion. Hemangiomas can appear in the skin, soft tissue, liver, spine, or other areas, and many are found incidentally during imaging.
Why Evaluation Matters
Most hemangiomas do not require urgent treatment, but evaluation matters when symptoms develop, the lesion is enlarging, or imaging is needed to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes of a mass or vascular change.
Symptoms
Hemangioma symptoms depend on where the lesion is located, how large it is, and whether it is affecting nearby nerves, skin, organs, or soft tissue.
Visible Skin or Soft Tissue Change
A hemangioma may appear as a red, purple, blue, or raised area, or as a deeper lump under the skin.
Pain, Pressure, or Swelling
Larger or deeper lesions may cause aching, tenderness, fullness, or pressure in the surrounding area.
Bleeding or Irritation
Surface hemangiomas may become irritated, bleed, ulcerate, or be bothered by friction depending on location.
Organ or Nerve-Related Symptoms
Internal hemangiomas may cause symptoms only if they are large, near sensitive structures, or found during imaging for another concern.
Seek care now if…
Seek prompt evaluation if a vascular lesion is rapidly enlarging, painful, bleeding, ulcerating, changing appearance, or associated with new neurologic, abdominal, or functional symptoms.
Causes & Risk Factors
Hemangiomas develop from abnormal clusters of blood vessels. Many are congenital or develop early in life, while some internal hemangiomas are found later during imaging.
Common Causes
- Extra clusters of blood vessels
- Congenital or early-life vascular changes
- Incidental findings on imaging
- Growth in skin, soft tissue, or organs
Hemangiomas are usually benign vascular lesions. Their significance depends on size, location, symptoms, and whether imaging suggests a typical appearance.
Risk Factors
- Larger lesion size
- Sensitive location
- Bleeding or ulceration
- Pain, pressure, or swelling
- Internal organ involvement
- Atypical imaging features
- Rapid change over time
Diagnosis
Diagnosis focuses on confirming that the lesion has features consistent with a hemangioma, determining its size and location, and assessing whether it needs monitoring or treatment planning.
Typical Evaluation
- Symptom and growth review
- Physical exam when visible
- Ultrasound, MRI, or CT when needed
- Review of prior imaging
- Specialty referral when appropriate
What to Bring
- Prior imaging reports
- Photos if the lesion changes
- Symptom timeline
- Medication list
- Bleeding or pain history
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the hemangioma location, symptoms, growth pattern, bleeding risk, and imaging findings. Many hemangiomas are monitored, while symptomatic or higher-risk lesions may need additional evaluation or image-guided treatment discussion.
Related care: Treatment planning may include imaging review, symptom monitoring, specialty coordination, or image-guided options when a hemangioma is painful, bleeding, enlarging, or affecting nearby structures.
Risk Management
- Confirm diagnosis
- Review imaging
- Track symptoms
- Protect irritated skin
Monitoring & Symptom Protection
- Monitor growth
- Reduce friction
- Watch for bleeding
- Report new symptoms
Image-Guided Treatment Options
- Image-guided planning
- Embolization in select cases
- Ablation in select cases
- Specialty coordination
Follow-Up Evaluation
- Rapid growth
- Bleeding or ulceration
- Increasing pain
- Atypical imaging findings
Recovery
Recovery and management depend on where the hemangioma is located, whether it is being monitored or treated, and whether symptoms such as pain, swelling, bleeding, or pressure are present.
What Helps Most
- Clear diagnosis: Imaging helps confirm typical hemangioma features.
- Symptom tracking: Note pain, swelling, bleeding, or growth.
- Skin protection: Reduce friction when surface lesions are irritated.
- Follow-up imaging: Monitoring may be recommended for deeper lesions.
- Specialty coordination: Care may involve vascular, IR, dermatology, or other specialists.
When to Follow Up
- Growth: The lesion appears larger or changes shape.
- Pain or pressure: Symptoms are increasing.
- Bleeding or ulceration: Skin breakdown or bleeding develops.
- New functional symptoms: Movement, swallowing, breathing, or organ-related symptoms appear.
- Imaging concern: A scan suggests a lesion that needs closer review.
Frequently Asked Questions
A hemangioma is a benign growth made up of extra blood vessels. It may occur in the skin, soft tissue, liver, spine, or other areas.
Most hemangiomas are benign and are not cancer. Evaluation may still be needed if the lesion is painful, enlarging, bleeding, or has uncertain imaging features.
No. Many hemangiomas are monitored without treatment, especially when they are small, stable, and not causing symptoms.
Diagnosis may include physical exam and imaging such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT, depending on the location and symptoms.
A hemangioma should be evaluated if it is growing, painful, bleeding, ulcerating, changing appearance, or affecting nearby structures.
In selected cases, image-guided treatment may be considered when a hemangioma is symptomatic, higher risk, or affecting surrounding tissue.
Locations
LVVIS West Side Consultation Office
8930 W Sunset Rd, Suite 350
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Consultations and vascular evaluations
LV2 Limb & Vascular Division
8930 W Sunset Rd, Suite 350
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Limb preservation and podiatry partnership care
LVVIS East Procedure Office
2250 E Flamingo Rd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Procedures, diagnostics, and circulatory care
LVVIS West Side Surgical Center
6120 S Fort Apache Rd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Advanced vascular and interventional procedures