Angioma - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Definition

Angiomas are benign tumors on human skin. There are many types of angiomas. These consist of small blood vessels. These can be anywhere on human body. They may be on hands, legs, and chest and may be on the head too. These aren't considered dangerous. However, they may be present as symptoms of another more serious disorder, such as cirrhosis. When they are removed, it is generally for cosmetic reasons. Angiomas can occur almost anywhere on the skin, but most commonly on the torso. They rarely occur on the hands or feet. When they first occur, angiomas are about the size of a pinhead and do not protrude above the surface of the skin. These are mainly of three types

• Spider angiomas
• Cherry angiomas
• Senile angiomas

Angioma Causes

1. The cause is unknown. Although painless and harmless, cherry angiomas may bleed profusely if injured.
2. We can think age as one of the causes. The most of angioma cases are after age of 40. Researchers have even found that more than 70 percent of people age 70 or older have cherry angiomas. The cherry-red "bumps" develop alone or in groups, most often on the torso and frequently on the face, scalp, neck, arms and legs.
3. The cause of the Cherry Angioma is unknown. Cherry angiomas and are due to aging and do not have any known significance.

Angioma Symptoms

1. In this problem or disease angiomas are small from pinhead size to about ¼ inch in diameter.
2. The angioms are benign, smooth and bright red colored.
3. Spider angiomas appear as tiny, hard-to-see red spots. They are harmless and generally cause no symptoms; they are only of cosmetic significance.
4. The symptoms of Venous Anigomas can range to no symptoms at all to ones where the individual experiences headaches, numbness, laziness, seizures, blackouts, and other types of anigomas.
5. Angiomas can bleed slowly within the walls of the angioma and remain quite small. A small hemorrhage may not require surgery, but may be reabsorbed by the body. However, continued small hemorrhages in the same cavernous angioma often cause deterioration in function.

Angioma Treatment

1. Angioms are surgically removed or we can say resected by using a cranioromy or opening a skull. This cure is performed under general anesthesia. In some cases where brain mapping is done in awake there anesthesia is not done. Angiomas in the spine are removed using laminectomy or unroofing of the vertebrae.
2. We don't know how to remove a cavernous angioma without brain surgery. Less intrusive removal methods may allow for treatment of more angiomas before they become problematic.
3. Cherry angiomas generally do not need to be treated. However sometimes it is done for cosmetic reasons.
4. If they are cosmetically displeasing or prone to bleeding, angiomas may be removed by surgery, freezing, burning, or laser.