Re: ok, in laymans terms please

[Guest guest]

Lynne, hemangiomas are just collections of blood vessels. Strawberry birthmarks are hemangiomas. I really didn't know anything about spinal hemangiomas, so I read several sites. Apparently you can develop them anywhere, including the spine. They are almost always benign, and are very common spinal lesions. Most of the time, they cause no symptoms. The spinal hemangiomas occasionally do cause pain, numbness or decrease in muscle strength (usually in the legs) & other problems. This is the easiest to understand article that I found; most of them are over my head!

Hemangioma: A spinal hemangioma is a primary, benign tumor most common in the thoracic and lumbar spine. . This type of tumor typically affects the vertebral body, but also can affect muscles. The tumor has few symptoms, and is often found on examination for another condition. It is most common in patients aged 30-50. Hemangioma patients are closely watched for signs of compression fractures, neurologic dysfunction or the development of a soft tissue mass as a result of the hemangioma.Treatment depends on the size and location of the hemangioma. A combination of embolization (i.e. closing the blood flow), excision (surgical removal of the tumor) and radiation therapy is typical.

Hope this helps!

Ramblin' Rose

Moderator

A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

Reply-To: Neurosarcoidosis To: Neurosarcoidosis Subject: ok, in laymans terms pleaseDate: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:31:05 -0000

Sorry, but I have looked this up and am just overwhelmed by it all. Can someone break it down for me please?I had to have another mri, on my neck b/c of my hands going numb, and in the previous mri they saw that I had some 'spots' on my spine. I thought that it was just some granulomas, but they are tlling me that is is hemangiomas. I know that they are benigne, but exactly, what are they, and are they causing some of my back pain, and can they grow in size and get worse?"whew"You don't have to answer all at once, but just a little explanation for me would be nice.thanks allLynne

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[Guest guest]

Rose, Thank you so much, this does help. I am waiting to hear from a pain clinic for an injection in my back, I hope this helps. Also, I am looking forward to some pics from the conference. LynneRose wrote: Lynne, hemangiomas are just collections of blood vessels. Strawberry birthmarks are hemangiomas. I really didn't know anything

about spinal hemangiomas, so I read several sites. Apparently you can develop them anywhere, including the spine. They are almost always benign, and are very common spinal lesions. Most of the time, they cause no symptoms. The spinal hemangiomas occasionally do cause pain, numbness or decrease in muscle strength (usually in the legs) & other problems. This is the easiest to understand article that I found; most of them are over my head! Hemangioma: A spinal hemangioma is a primary, benign tumor most common in the thoracic and lumbar spine. . This type of tumor typically affects the vertebral body, but also can affect muscles. The tumor has few symptoms, and is often found on examination for another condition. It is most common in patients aged 30-50. Hemangioma patients are closely watched for signs of compression fractures, neurologic dysfunction or the development

of a soft tissue mass as a result of the hemangioma.Treatment depends on the size and location of the hemangioma. A combination of embolization (i.e. closing the blood flow), excision (surgical removal of the tumor) and radiation therapy is typical. Hope this helps! Ramblin' Rose Moderator A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22 From: "children8_2000" <children8_2000 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>Reply-To: Neurosarcoidosis To: Neurosarcoidosis Subject: ok, in laymans terms pleaseDate: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:31:05 -0000 Sorry, but I have looked this up and am just overwhelmed by it all. Can someone break it down for me please?I had to have another mri, on my neck b/c of my hands going numb, and in the previous mri they saw that I had some 'spots' on my spine. I thought that it was just some granulomas, but they are tlling me that is is hemangiomas. I know that they are benigne, but exactly, what are they, and are they causing some of my back pain, and can they grow in size and get worse?"whew"You

don't have to answer all at once, but just a little explanation for me would be nice.thanks allLynne Can you find the hidden words? Take a break and play Seekadoo!

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Love Lynne

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[Guest guest]

hemangiomas.

Basically, it's a birthmark. They are a collection of tiny blood capillaries that concentrate in a certain area.

Here is an article on them.

<<Back to Index

[ click a disease picture to see larger view ]

Hemangiomas

Hemangiomas are strawberry-colored "birthmarks". They are not rare, and vary from tiny blebs to large and multiple tumor-like growths. They are not true birthmarks since they are mostly not seen at birth, but start in infancy and then begin to grow. Hemangiomas first appear from birth up to 18 months, and then slowly shrink. Port wine stains and other true birthmarks are fully formed at birth and do not grow wider.Doctors disagree over how hemangiomas should be dealt with. The answer may depend on whether you see a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, pediatrician, or other specialist. Because many of the smaller birthmarks resolve on their own with no intervention, most doctors agree that you should leave small hemangiomas that are not growing alone, especially if they are on skin normally covered by clothing.Hemangiomas that require early aggressive treatment include those that are cosmetically deforming, growing rapidly or obstructing vision, hearing, breathing, eating or any other body function. Hemangiomas on the lower face and neck may later block internal airways. Large facial hemangiomas may cause psychosocial impairment. Also, larger hemangiomas that are left alone to regress (shrink away over years) will eventually look better if the resulting saggy, stretched out skin and fatty tissue is surgically removed.Most hemangiomas when first diagnosed are superficial only. These can be treated with a laser as soon as they are diagnosed, and early treatment is key as laser becomes less effective if you wait. The laser selects the red and shrinks the vessels so that the result is a less noticeable lesion. Repeated treatments can almost completely remove the superficial component. However, since the laser can only penetrate 1-3mm, it cannot shrink any deep component. Sometimes early treatment will prevent further growth, although deeper portions may still persist and grow. The flash-lamp pulse dye, pump dye, diode, and sclero-laser are the primary lasers used for treating hemangiomas. The risk of scarring is small. Complete removal of every trace should not be expected. Deep hemangiomas have no superficial (or red) part on the surface. They have large, soft, blood filled cavities with a blue hue. Compound hemangiomas have both superficial and deep parts. These are often the largest, spreading all over the face or body or located on the nasal tip, mouth, jaw, etc. These hemangiomas can be treated a number of ways.If the area is fairly small and not on the face, intralesional injection with steroids with or without liquid nitrogen cryosurgery can be used. If there is also a superficial (surface) component, laser can be used to reduce the superficial component along with the steroid injection. Larger hemangiomas require oral steroids. A fairly large dose is needed but infants seem to handle this very well. Many children who are put on steroids will have to go through several trials of dosing-tapering. The current protocol is to put them on the initial dosage for 4-6 weeks and then begin a slow taper. If re-growth is seen, they should be put back on the original dose for another 4 weeks and then begin to taper again. When tapering down no longer encourages re-growth, the children can safely be weaned off the drug.Alfa-interferon is recommended for hemangiomas that do not respond to steroids and if the lesion is problematic or life threatening. Spastic dysplegia has been associated in 10-12% of the children taking alfa-interferon and as a result should be used with extreme caution. Spastic dysplegia can cause delayed walking or other problems with walking.Plastic surgery is indicated for hemangiomas that are life threatening or deforming and did not respond to an appropriate treatment. For facial hemangiomas with no significant reduction in size between 2 and 3 years of age, surgical intervention should be considered, especially if the lesion is disfiguring. Surgery may also be indicated for hemangiomas that have been left alone and do not show signs of shrinkage after a few years. Some experts are convinced that watchful waiting and massage therapy (with the parents massaging the area four times daily) is the best treatment.Surgery is almost never a first choice for treatment. Unfortunately, there will be instances where a rapidly growing lesion will not respond to the most aggressive therapy, but these instances are rare. Most hemangiomas have a good outcome if left alone, but as medicine has progressed the benefits to early treatment are outweighing the risks more and more. See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

thanks Tracie, I did see thoes articles and that was what was so confusing. How could I have a birthmark on my spine? But with us, I have found out that anything can be possible. Lynnetiodaat@... wrote: In a message dated 9/11/2007 10:32:25 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, children8_2000 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com writes: hemangiomas. Basically, it's a birthmark. They are a collection of tiny blood capillaries that concentrate in a certain area. Here is an article on them. <<Back to Index [ click a disease picture to see larger view ] Hemangiomas Hemangiomas are strawberry-colored "birthmarks". They are not rare, and

vary from tiny blebs to large and multiple tumor-like growths. They are not true birthmarks since they are mostly not seen at birth, but start in infancy and then begin to grow. Hemangiomas first appear from birth up to 18 months, and then slowly shrink. Port wine stains and other true birthmarks are fully formed at birth and do not grow wider.Doctors disagree over how hemangiomas should be dealt with. The answer may depend on whether you see a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, pediatrician, or other specialist. Because many of the smaller birthmarks resolve on their own with no intervention, most doctors agree that you should leave small hemangiomas that are not growing alone, especially if they are on skin normally covered by clothing.Hemangiomas that require early aggressive treatment include those that are cosmetically deforming, growing rapidly or obstructing vision, hearing, breathing, eating or any other body function. Hemangiomas on the lower

face and neck may later block internal airways. Large facial hemangiomas may cause psychosocial impairment. Also, larger hemangiomas that are left alone to regress (shrink away over years) will eventually look better if the resulting saggy, stretched out skin and fatty tissue is surgically removed.Most hemangiomas when first diagnosed are superficial only. These can be treated with a laser as soon as they are diagnosed, and early treatment is key as laser becomes less effective if you wait. The laser selects the red and shrinks the vessels so that the result is a less noticeable lesion. Repeated treatments can almost completely remove the superficial component. However, since the laser can only penetrate 1-3mm, it cannot shrink any deep component. Sometimes early treatment will prevent further growth, although deeper portions may still persist and grow. The flash-lamp pulse dye, pump dye, diode, and sclero-laser are the primary lasers used for treating

hemangiomas. The risk of scarring is small. Complete removal of every trace should not be expected. Deep hemangiomas have no superficial (or red) part on the surface. They have large, soft, blood filled cavities with a blue hue. Compound hemangiomas have both superficial and deep parts. These are often the largest, spreading all over the face or body or located on the nasal tip, mouth, jaw, etc. These hemangiomas can be treated a number of ways.If the area is fairly small and not on the face, intralesional injection with steroids with or without liquid nitrogen cryosurgery can be used. If there is also a superficial (surface) component, laser can be used to reduce the superficial component along with the steroid injection. Larger hemangiomas require oral steroids. A fairly large dose is needed but

infants seem to handle this very well. Many children who are put on steroids will have to go through several trials of dosing-tapering. The current protocol is to put them on the initial dosage for 4-6 weeks and then begin a slow taper. If re-growth is seen, they should be put back on the original dose for another 4 weeks and then begin to taper again. When tapering down no longer encourages re-growth, the children can safely be weaned off the drug.Alfa-interferon is recommended for hemangiomas that do not respond to steroids and if the lesion is problematic or life threatening. Spastic dysplegia has been associated in 10-12% of the children taking alfa-interferon and as a result should be used with extreme caution. Spastic dysplegia can cause delayed walking or other problems with walking.Plastic surgery is indicated for hemangiomas that are life threatening or deforming and did not respond to an appropriate treatment. For facial hemangiomas with no

significant reduction in size between 2 and 3 years of age, surgical intervention should be considered, especially if the lesion is disfiguring. Surgery may also be indicated for hemangiomas that have been left alone and do not show signs of shrinkage after a few years. Some experts are convinced that watchful waiting and massage therapy (with the parents massaging the area four times daily) is the best treatment.Surgery is almost never a first choice for treatment. Unfortunately, there will be instances where a rapidly growing lesion will not respond to the most aggressive therapy, but these instances are rare. Most hemangiomas have a good outcome if left alone, but as medicine has progressed the benefits to early treatment are outweighing the risks more and more. See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

To My New Family

Love Lynne

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[Guest guest]

thanks Tracie, I did see thoes articles and that was what was so confusing. How could I have a birthmark on my spine? But with us, I have found out that anything can be possible. Lynnetiodaat@... wrote: In a message dated 9/11/2007 10:32:25 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, children8_2000 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com writes: hemangiomas. Basically, it's a birthmark. They are a collection of tiny blood capillaries that concentrate in a certain area. Here is an article on them. <<Back to Index [ click a disease picture to see larger view ] Hemangiomas Hemangiomas are strawberry-colored "birthmarks". They are not rare, and

vary from tiny blebs to large and multiple tumor-like growths. They are not true birthmarks since they are mostly not seen at birth, but start in infancy and then begin to grow. Hemangiomas first appear from birth up to 18 months, and then slowly shrink. Port wine stains and other true birthmarks are fully formed at birth and do not grow wider.Doctors disagree over how hemangiomas should be dealt with. The answer may depend on whether you see a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, pediatrician, or other specialist. Because many of the smaller birthmarks resolve on their own with no intervention, most doctors agree that you should leave small hemangiomas that are not growing alone, especially if they are on skin normally covered by clothing.Hemangiomas that require early aggressive treatment include those that are cosmetically deforming, growing rapidly or obstructing vision, hearing, breathing, eating or any other body function. Hemangiomas on the lower

face and neck may later block internal airways. Large facial hemangiomas may cause psychosocial impairment. Also, larger hemangiomas that are left alone to regress (shrink away over years) will eventually look better if the resulting saggy, stretched out skin and fatty tissue is surgically removed.Most hemangiomas when first diagnosed are superficial only. These can be treated with a laser as soon as they are diagnosed, and early treatment is key as laser becomes less effective if you wait. The laser selects the red and shrinks the vessels so that the result is a less noticeable lesion. Repeated treatments can almost completely remove the superficial component. However, since the laser can only penetrate 1-3mm, it cannot shrink any deep component. Sometimes early treatment will prevent further growth, although deeper portions may still persist and grow. The flash-lamp pulse dye, pump dye, diode, and sclero-laser are the primary lasers used for treating

hemangiomas. The risk of scarring is small. Complete removal of every trace should not be expected. Deep hemangiomas have no superficial (or red) part on the surface. They have large, soft, blood filled cavities with a blue hue. Compound hemangiomas have both superficial and deep parts. These are often the largest, spreading all over the face or body or located on the nasal tip, mouth, jaw, etc. These hemangiomas can be treated a number of ways.If the area is fairly small and not on the face, intralesional injection with steroids with or without liquid nitrogen cryosurgery can be used. If there is also a superficial (surface) component, laser can be used to reduce the superficial component along with the steroid injection. Larger hemangiomas require oral steroids. A fairly large dose is needed but

infants seem to handle this very well. Many children who are put on steroids will have to go through several trials of dosing-tapering. The current protocol is to put them on the initial dosage for 4-6 weeks and then begin a slow taper. If re-growth is seen, they should be put back on the original dose for another 4 weeks and then begin to taper again. When tapering down no longer encourages re-growth, the children can safely be weaned off the drug.Alfa-interferon is recommended for hemangiomas that do not respond to steroids and if the lesion is problematic or life threatening. Spastic dysplegia has been associated in 10-12% of the children taking alfa-interferon and as a result should be used with extreme caution. Spastic dysplegia can cause delayed walking or other problems with walking.Plastic surgery is indicated for hemangiomas that are life threatening or deforming and did not respond to an appropriate treatment. For facial hemangiomas with no

significant reduction in size between 2 and 3 years of age, surgical intervention should be considered, especially if the lesion is disfiguring. Surgery may also be indicated for hemangiomas that have been left alone and do not show signs of shrinkage after a few years. Some experts are convinced that watchful waiting and massage therapy (with the parents massaging the area four times daily) is the best treatment.Surgery is almost never a first choice for treatment. Unfortunately, there will be instances where a rapidly growing lesion will not respond to the most aggressive therapy, but these instances are rare. Most hemangiomas have a good outcome if left alone, but as medicine has progressed the benefits to early treatment are outweighing the risks more and more. See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

To My New Family

Love Lynne

Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows.Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.