Is a hemangioma on the spine serious?

Is a hemangioma on the spine serious?

If left untreated, symptomatic hemangiomas can cause serious neurological effects. At UPMC, we treat hemangiomas with surgical removal (resection) of the tumor or the affected vertebra, and radiation therapy to treat pain. Ethanol injections and laminectomy may also be performed.

Do spinal hemangiomas need to be removed?

In most cases, vertebral hemangioma has a benign course and surgery is not required.

What type of doctor treats a spinal hemangioma?

However, in a few cases, symptoms can arise when a spinal hemangioma tumor places pressure on the vertebra and causes pain. In these circumstance if the condition is not treated, it could result in serious neurological damage. These conditions are best treated by an orthopedic oncologist with a skill set like Dr.

Can a spinal hemangioma become malignant?

The diagnosis of vertebral hemangioma is very crucial and can be challenging in some cases. It may mimic malignant lesions in both clinical and radiological behavior [7]. Hemangiomas can be aggressive, compressing the spinal cord with paraparesis and spasticity as in our case.

Is a hemangioma a disability?

If these symptoms would prevent you from attending work regularly or cause you to need to rest away from the work station more often than is usually allowed in the work place, then you could be considered disabled for those reasons. This is true for any other body system that your hemangioma affects.

Can a hemangioma be cancerous?

Because hemangiomas very rarely become cancerous, most do not require any medical treatment. However, some hemangiomas can be disfiguring, and many people seek a doctor’s care for cosmetic reasons. In most cases of hemangioma, treatment does not involve surgery.

Are spinal hemangiomas painful?

Symptoms of spinal hemangioma Only 5% of people with a hemangioma have symptoms. They’re often discovered accidentally during an X-ray or other imaging test of your spine. When hemangioma symptoms do occur, they may include back pain, pain that radiates outward from your back and numbness or weakness.

Can a hemangioma cause nerve pain?

Among symptomatic hemangiomas, the most common symptom is pain at the tumor site, usually in the back. If the tumor expands beyond the bony boundaries or causes collapse of a vertebra it will create pressure on the surrounding nerves or spinal cord.

Can a spinal hemangioma be misdiagnosed?

Unfortunately, not all hemangiomas have the typical appearance, and they can mimic metastases on routine MR imaging. These are generally referred to as atypical hemangiomas and can result in misdiagnosis and ultimately additional imaging, biopsy, and unnecessary costs.

What is a hemangioma in your spine?

Hemangiomas, Benign: Hemangiomas are non-cancerous (benign) tumors made of abnormal blood vessels. They are common and can occur anywhere in the body. Most hemangiomas of bone are in the spine and are found more often with advancing age.

What is hemangioma of bone?

HEMANGIOMAS are congenital abnormalities rather than true tumors and most of them are present before birth. Hemangioma of bone is comparatively rare and usually affects the vertebrae, skull, and long bones. It may occur at any age and is equally distributed between the sexes.

What is a benign hemangioma of the spine?

What are the symptoms of a hemangioma?

In most cases, a liver hemangioma doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms. When a liver hemangioma causes signs and symptoms, they may include: Pain in the upper right abdomen. Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food. Nausea. Vomiting.

What is a spinal hemangioma?

A spinal hemangioma or a hemangioma in spine is a benign tumor that may develop in the bony segments of the spinal column.

What is osseous hemangioma?

Hemangiomas are benign bone lesions characterized by vascular spaces lined with endothelial cells. Approximately 50% of osseous hemangiomas are found in the vertebral bodies (thoracic especially) and 20% are located in the calvarium. The remaining lesions are found in the tibia, femur and humerus.

What is a lumbar hemangioma?

A lumbar hemangioma is a benign blood vessel tumor that grows along one or more vertebra of the lower back.