Venous angiomas are tangled and malformed veins in the brain that usually cause no symptoms and are discovered during medical imaging scans. Venous malformations can occur in other parts of the body and may require treatment if they occur in critical areas. Glomovenous malformations and blue rubber nevus syndrome are other types of venous malformations that can cause pain and bleeding. Treatment options include laser removal, surgical removal, and sclerotherapy.
A venous angioma of the brain is a group of veins that are tangled and malformed. These malformations often occur in the veins draining into the deep white matter of the brain. Veins typically lack smooth muscle cells and tend to widen or dilate as they drain blood from parts of the brain. Venous malformations may have a bluish appearance, while others may be garnet red or have no color at all in some cases.
In most cases, a venous angioma causes no symptoms. These angiomas are typically discovered when a patient undergoes a medical imaging scan of the brain such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan for another medical reason. A venous angioma rarely bleeds and rarely requires treatment. Surgical removal of a venous angioma carries risks of complications such as a stroke that usually do not justify this type of treatment.
Venous malformations can occur in other parts of the body such as skin, bones or muscles, as well as in organs of the body such as the liver, spleen or colon. Most venous malformations are present at birth, but may not be visible until later. Some venous malformations can bleed suddenly, and these formations can enlarge due to an injury. Pregnant women may experience enlargement of a venous malformation, and women using birth control pills may also notice these lesions growing.
A venous malformation that occurs in a critical area such as the eyes, face or neck may benefit from treatment. In some situations, smaller venous malformation lesions can be removed with a laser. Some doctors may perform surgical removal of part or all of a lesion. Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure in which a doctor typically injects a chemical solution into a lesion to shrink it.
Patients can develop several distinct types of venous malformations in addition to a venous angioma. A glomovenous malformation is a skin lesion that typically includes glomus cells, cells related to smooth muscle that cause these lesions to be tight. These bumps are usually painful and bluish-purple in color and can be seen almost anywhere on the body. Glomovenous malformations are often hereditary and tend to run in families.
Blue rubber nevus syndrome is a type of venous malformation that typically grows on the skin of the limbs or trunk. These lesions tend to be blue in color and usually develop as multiple formations. Some lesions of the blue rubber bleb nevus can grow in the stomach or intestinal tract, where they can cause abdominal pain or bleeding in some cases. Doctors usually treat these lesions with endoscopic treatment and surgical removal.
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