Vascular Malformation (Hemangioma)

Vascular malformation, also known as hemangioma, can be classified into different types such as venous malformation, arterial malformation, lymphatic malformation, and so on. The emergence of vascular malformation will undoubtedly have a significant impact, as the condition is complex and requires a comprehensive understanding of its causes before treatment can be effectively carried out. Many patients are also concerned about the etiology of vascular malformation. So, what causes vascular malformation and how is it treated?

Causes of Vascular Malformation

1. There are many causes of vascular malformation, such as a history of rubella during pregnancy. This disease can lead to abnormal fetal development and poor health outcomes, with the most common manifestation being vascular lesions that result in vascular malformation. Therefore, pregnant women should take special care to protect themselves from diseases during pregnancy to ensure the health of their fetuses and avoid any potential impact from diseases.

2. Altitude hypoxia is also an important cause of vascular malformation. If a pregnant woman experiences altitude hypoxia during childbirth, it can lead to congenital vascular malformation by causing the fetal pulmonary disease and failing to close the arterial duct in time. Therefore, pregnant women should also take scientific prevention measures to ensure the health of their children.

3. Physiological reasons can also lead to the occurrence of vascular malformation, such as abnormal dilation of capillaries, veins, arteries, or lymphatic vessels, which can cause abnormal proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and result in vascular malformation. Most of these malformations can be detected at birth and grow slowly with age, never disappearing.

Treatment of Vascular Malformation

1. Injection of sclerosing agents into the diseased cavity can be used to treat venous malformations. 5% sodium morrhuate or other sclerosing agents can be injected into the diseased cavity to cause fibrosis and occlusion of the diseased tissue, resulting in the reduction or disappearance of the lesion. During injection, it is advisable to temporarily compress the surrounding tissue to block blood flow, and repeat the injection every 1-2 weeks. The injection dose should be determined based on the size of the lesion, and generally, the injection volume of sodium morrhuate should not exceed 5ml at a time. If the treatment effect is not satisfactory, surgical resection or cryotherapy can be considered.

2. Surgical treatment is mainly used for arteriovenous malformations. During the operation, the arteries communicating with the tumor should be ligated and cut first, and then the diseased tissue should be removed. Sometimes, due to extensive lesions, ligation of one or both external carotid arteries may be required during surgery to reduce bleeding. In recent years, with the development of interventional radiology, catheter-based arterial embolization techniques can be used to control and reduce intraoperative bleeding. This hemostatic effect is much better than ligation of the external carotid artery because embolization can be achieved in all branches of the artery, including the terminal branches, without causing a sudden drop in pressure in the peripheral vessels, opening of the lumen, and formation of collateral circulation.

3. Pingyangmycin has been increasingly used in the clinical treatment of vascular malformations in recent years. Its main indications include venous malformations and large cystic lymphatic malformations, and it has achieved certain therapeutic effects. However, as Pingyangmycin is an anticancer drug, its long-term efficacy and adverse reactions need to be further observed. Currently, there are many treatment options for hemangiomas and vascular malformations, but the treatment of large vascular malformations has not been completely resolved. With the progress of reconstructive surgery, especially microsurgery techniques, it has become possible to perform "radical" resection and immediate reconstruction of defects for some giant vascular malformations, which will be adopted by more doctors and accepted by more patients.