Vascular Anomalies - Hemangiomas. Possibilities of their Diagnosis and Treatment

Hemangiomas and vascular malformations represent the most common vascular anomalies of childhood. Anomalies occur in 10% of the children and they frequently involve head, neck and oral cavity. Traditional therapeutic management has been based on the assumption that hemangiomas will involute spontaneously by age of 5-7. Nevertheless, a significant minority of vascular anomalies do require a treatment since they possibly might to threat the patient's life. During the past years there have been prominent advancements in the management and classification of anomalies. There are many treatments modalities. It is very important and also difficult to make a decision of when, how and why to intervene. We must always weigh the risks and benefits which each chosen therapy brings. Treatment options are different depending on the age of the patient, size and location of the tumor. Therapy is often combined, thus it demands liable multidisciplinary approach. This review aims to compare all risks and benefits of each chosen therapy. The aim of this review reaches to remind the fact that hemangioma accordingly with the new classification is no longer the same term as vascular malformations. In addition it tries to clarify the clinical and histological facts on which it is possible to differentiate and accurately diagnose individual subtypes of vascular anomalies. And last but not least it refers to the possibilities of therapy, which worldwide seem to be a most appropriate for each type of anomalies.