Hemangioendothelioma is a rare tumor that can form in blood vessels, most commonly near the skin or in the liver or spleen. It is typically benign but can become cancerous and cause serious health complications. Treatment may involve medication or surgery. The causes are not well understood, but it can develop from existing benign lesions. Symptoms include a raised, dark red bump, and treatment decisions are based on the patient’s symptoms and the likelihood of cancer spreading. Surgery or chemotherapy may be necessary for cancerous tumors.
A hemangioendothelioma is a very rare type of tumor that appears inside a blood vessel. A mass can potentially form anywhere on the body, but the condition most commonly affects blood vessels near the skin or in the liver or spleen. A hemangioendothelioma is typically a slow-growing, benign tumor that doesn’t cause major symptoms, but can potentially become cancerous and lead to serious health complications. Treatment may involve taking medications to slow the growth of new cells or having surgery to remove the damaged blood vessel. If cancer is present, a person may need additional surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation treatments.
The exact causes of hemangioendothelioma are not well understood, but most cancers arise from existing benign lesions called hemangiomas. A hemangioma can be present at birth due to a genetic mutation or fetal injury. Some people develop injuries later in life as a result of exposure to certain toxic chemicals, chronic illnesses, or autoimmune conditions that severely compromise the immune system. It is not known exactly how and why hemangioendotheliomas develop from certain lesions.
A person may be able to see a hemangioendothelioma if it is very close to the skin. It usually looks like a raised, soft, dark red bump that isn’t itchy or tender. The masses are most often seen in the head or neck, but a tumor can develop in the arm, leg, torso, or elsewhere on the skin’s surface. A hemangioendothelioma growing in the liver or spleen may not cause any symptoms until it actually becomes cancerous and starts damaging tissue. The resulting problems can include fatigue, abdominal pain, easy bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, and frequent illnesses.
A doctor can detect a skin hemangioma or hemangioendothelioma with a simple physical exam. Deep tumors can be found through imaging screens such as ultrasound and computed tomography tests. Once a mass is discovered, a blood sample and tissue biopsy are usually needed to check for cancer. Treatment decisions are made based on the patient’s symptoms and the likelihood of the cancer starting to spread.
If a small hemangioendothelioma is well isolated and shows no signs of cancer, a doctor may choose to avoid treating it right away. Instead, the patient may be asked to attend regular checkups so that changes in mass and symptoms can be monitored. Some benign tumors respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs designed to stop new vascular tissue from growing. Surgery may be considered if a tumor begins to cause tissue damage to the skin or an internal organ.
Cancerous hemangioendotheliomas are surgically removed when possible. You may need an organ transplant if your cancer has caused serious, irreversible damage. If the cancer does spread, several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation are often attempted to rid the body of the cancer. The prognosis can vary from patient to patient, but many people recover when their condition is discovered and treated early.
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