Generality
Angioma of the newborn is a benign vascular tumor that occurs in some children.
Also known by the common name of " birthmark ", the angioma of the newborn appears as a patch of red with indefinite contours and variable dimensions. In most cases, this benign formation tends to regress spontaneously within a few years, without causing problems. However, in certain situations, the angioma in question can give rise to complications due to which medical intervention is necessary.
Curiosity
Angiomas of this type present on the skin of the newborn are commonly called "birthmarks" because - in the common imaginary - they are associated with the so-called birthmarks of the mother during pregnancy. In the specific case of the newborn's angioma, given the red coloration, it is customary to speak of "strawberry desires" or "cherries".
What is that
What is the Neonate Angel?
The angioma of the newborn is a benign tumor formation that involves the blood vessels and that can occur both at the level of the skin and at the level of mucous membranes and organs. This tumor form may be present from birth - therefore, be a congenital angioma - or it may occur a few months later, in these cases, it is usual to talk about infantile hemangioma . In this regard, we recall that the infant's angioma is congenital in rather rare cases, while it occurs more frequently in the first weeks after birth. Given the greater frequency of infantile hemangioma compared to congenital angioma, this article will only discuss this particular type of benign formation (in this specific case, therefore, the terms "angioma of the newborn" and "infantile hemangioma" will be used as synonyms).
Deepening: what is a hemangioma?
Hemangioma is the term used to indicate any angioma originating from an endothelial cell of a blood vessel. Not surprisingly, the word "hemangioma" comes from the Greek αίμα ("haema-", ie "blood"), αγγείο ("angeio" or "vase"), and -ωμα ("oma", or "tumor").
Incidence
It has been estimated that the infant's angioma occurs in 3-10% of children, with a double incidence in females compared to males. In addition to this, it has been observed that the frequency of this benign tumor formation tends to be greater in premature and low birth weight infants.
Causes
What is the Angioma of the Newborn Caused by?
The angioma of the newborn is caused by a high proliferation of a benign nature that originates from an endothelial cell of a blood vessel, generally a capillary. The reason why this proliferation begins, however, still remains a mystery today, even if the hypotheses made on the subject are many. For example, some researchers suggest the possible involvement of an estrogenic hormone component; however, more and more in-depth studies are needed to confirm such a hypothesis.
Types
Types of Infant Angiomas
Depending on the depth they develop, it is possible to distinguish different types of infantile hemangiomas, such as:
- Angioma of the superficial newborn : it appears on the skin surface and is characterized by a typical red color. It is the most widespread type of infantile hemangioma and may be in relief or flat.
- Angioma of the deep newborn : it is a particular angioma that occurs subcutaneously, appearing as a sort of swelling or nodule of violet-bluish color.
- Angioma of the mixed newborn : it has features common to both of the aforementioned types of angioma of the newborn.
Features
What are the characteristics of the baby's angioma?
The angioma of the newborn appears as a patch of red or tending to violet-blue (the coloring varies according to the depth to which the neoformation is located), generally in relief and with irregular margins.
The size of an angioma of the newborn can vary greatly, from lesions a few centimeters large to hemangiomas that involve much more extensive portions of the skin.
Another typical feature of the newborn's angioma is its tendency to regress spontaneously in the early years of childhood (generally within 7 years), although there are cases in which the lesion regresses much more slowly and remains on the skin for periods of longer time.
In some cases, moreover, more than one angioma of the newborn can be seen. When it comes to small and very numerous lesions, there may be a correlation with a visceral angiomatosis, that is of the underlying organs.
Stages of Development of the Neonate Angioma
As mentioned, the infantile hemangioma occurs shortly after birth (in the first weeks or possibly in the first months). The stages of development of this benign lesion can be divided as follows:
- Initial phase in which there is the appearance of a lighter area of skin than the rest of the skin, inside which there are telangiectasias and / or a bright red patch.
- Subsequently, a phase of gradual growth begins which can be more or less rapid. In this period, the angioma of the newborn increases in volume and intensity of color. The growth phase usually continues until the child's seventh month of life.
- At the end of the growth phase, the newborn's angioma enters a stabilization phase and then evolves towards a slow and progressive regression that can last up to eight years of age.
Symptoms and Complications
Is the Neonate Angiomatic Symptomatic?
The angioma of the newborn does not cause symptoms of any kind and generally does not cause pain. However, it could give rise to various complications, sometimes even very serious ones. Therefore, in spite of the benign and asymptomatic nature of the training, in the presence of an angioma of the newborn, it is essential to contact the pediatrician and a specialist.
Complications of the Neonate Angioma
Normally, the infant's angioma is not a dangerous disorder, however, if it develops in particularly delicate regions of the body, it can also give rise to severe complications.
This is the case, for example, of the infantile hemangioma that develops at the periocular level. In fact, the presence of the angioma here can interfere with the normal development of the eye, giving rise to amblyopia (ie a decrease in visual acuity caused by structural alterations of the eye), strabismus and disfigurement of the face. A similar speech in the case where the angioma of the newborn occurs at the level of the airways, where it can give rise to respiratory disorders.
However, in general, any angioma of the newborn located on mucous membranes, organs or near sensitive areas of the body and / or orifices can give rise to serious complications.
Finally, among the other possible complications which the angioma of the newborn may face, we recall:
- Ulceration;
- Bleeding;
- Secondary infections (rare but still possible) which, in the most serious cases, can lead to tissue necrosis.
Diagnosis
How is Angioma Diagnosis of the Newborn?
The diagnosis of angioma of the newborn must be made by a specialist who - in addition to the visual analysis of the lesion and the collection of anamnestic data by the parents - can prescribe the execution of specific exams, such as:
- The ecocolordoppler (this is a diagnostic exam for the angioma of the newborn);
- Magnetic resonance imaging (very useful for assessing the possible involvement of underlying organs);
- Biopsy (it is a useful exam to distinguish the infant's angioma from other vascular malformations or from other pathologies).
Recourse to consulting with a specialist doctor like a dermatologist is absolutely necessary in order to make a correct and timely diagnosis.
Please note
The angioma of the newborn must not be confused with the flat angioma, a capillary malformation of the skin of a congenital nature and characterized by the formation of red patches which, however, do not proliferate.
Prognosis
What is the Prognosis of the Neonate Angioma?
The angioma of the newborn generally presents a good prognosis, in fact, in the vast majority of cases it tends to regress spontaneously in the first seven years of the child's life. However, in some patients, the regression may take much longer and the angioma may remain for long periods. In such situations, it is possible to request medical attention, especially if the presence of the angioma causes an aesthetic discomfort in the patient.
The prognosis changes when the newborn's angioma occurs near organs or other particularly delicate body areas with the consequent appearance of serious complications for the child. In such a situation, therefore, it is necessary to intervene with specific care and treatment.
Did you know that ...
Despite the tendency to spontaneous regression, the angioma of the newborn can leave a "trace" of its presence manifested by the appearance - in the area of affected skin - of residual fibrous tissue, scars, alterations of skin pigmentation or residual telangiectasias.
Care and Treatment
How can the baby's angioma be treated?
Fortunately, in most cases, the infant's angioma does not require any kind of treatment as it tends to regress spontaneously. However, as mentioned, in some situations, this benign neoformation requires specific care in order to avoid the onset of complications. The newborn's angioma requires medical intervention in the following cases:
- When the location and / or extent of benign formation can hinder the functions of sense organs or other vital organs, constituting a serious danger to the life and development of the child;
- When the hemangioma undergoes ulceration and / or is painful;
- When, due to the presence of the newborn's angioma in a certain body area, there is a real risk of scar formation or the onset of permanent deformation;
- When angiomas undergo complications of another nature.
Depending on the case, it is possible to eliminate the angioma of the newborn through:
- Drug therapy ;
- Laser therapy (in detail, the Dye laser is used, a particular type of selective laser for the elimination of red spots from the skin, as is the angioma of the newborn).
Naturally, the choice of the therapeutic strategy to be implemented to eliminate the angioma of the newborn is the responsibility of the specialist doctor only.
Pharmacological therapy
In relatively recent times, the use of propranolol (Hemangiol®) has been approved for the treatment of newborn angiomas. This active ingredient is a beta-blocker usually used for the treatment of hypertension in adults. However, at appropriate dosages, it can also be used in the treatment of newborn angiomas, since it is able to stop its growth and accelerate its regression. More precisely, propranolol is indicated in newborns affected by infantile hemangioma between the ages of 5 weeks and 5 months. The success rate of angioma drug therapy in newborns has exceeded expectations, reaching a favorable outcome in over 90% of cases.
Of course, propranolol for angioma care of the newborn can be given to the child only if prescribed only by the doctor.
