Other Vascular Malformations – a brief overview

This is the second article of the Dutch global non-profit patient organisation for patients with CMTC and Other Vascular (bloodvessel) Malformations, their families and healthcare providers.

In our body the blood flows through many thousands of kilometres of blood vessels.

Some blood vessels are very large and thick, such as the veins and the arteries. Some blood vessels are very thin, such as the capillaries.

Within dermatology, there are hundreds of diseases of the skin. Vascular anomalies are defects that are visible within the skin (sometimes you only see a swelling) by change of (blood) vessels. There are various types vascular abnormalities.

The vascular anomalies can be classified into two groups: the vascular malformations and vascular tumours. See the table below with examples.

There are multiple formats. Some people share the deviations, for example, by looking at the speed of the blood through the vessels: “high-flow” and “low-flow”. In the past, most vascular diseases referred to as ‘Hemangioma’. However, this is unwarranted, because different vascular disease ethology, course, or another treatment. Nowadays we talk, if we are talking about real Hemangiomas, rather about infantile hemangiomas (infantile hemangioma, IH).

Vascular abnormalities may not always cause problems but need to be checked. It is good to always good to have a “birth spot” or stain checked (we are not talking here about moles). We can distinguish the two groups, as said a group that is not causing problems (non-alarming) and a group that is causing problems (alarming).

In the case of vascular malformations, the family doctor will almost always refer you to a specialist such as (children’s) dermatologist or child surgeon for non-alarming abnormalities to get the correct diagnosis. For alarming defects you may be referred by the doctor to a special multidisciplinary team of specialists.

When treating hemangiomas there are many developments occurring in the treatment of these. Patients with non-alarming hemangiomas do not need to be redirected because they usually do not need to be treated. The GP will monitor these deviations. Should there be any cosmetic objections or doubts the GP may then refer the patient to the (children’s) dermatologist. For alarming hemangiomas the family doctor can refer you to a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

The next time we will discuss the psychological and psychosocial aspects of living with a rare disease (so disease independent).

For more information: www.cmtc.nl/en