P.S. In the hemangioma clinic, we encounter various questions from anxious parents. I have summarized some of these questions below in the hope that they will help you better understand hemangioma. What is hemangioma? Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are a very common benign tumor with an incidence of 5-10% in newborns, with the face being the most prevalent. Some hemangiomas can grow in critical areas (e.g. nipples, perineum, or even in the liver, skull, intestines, or under the voice box), or they can affect the corresponding function or even endanger life due to bleeding or ulcer formation, or because they grow rapidly and are so large that they cannot subside. What types of hemangiomas are there? What are the differences between the different types of hemangiomas? The traditional classification of hemangioma includes capillary hemangioma (including the familiar strawberry hemangioma), cavernous hemangioma, trapezius hemangioma and mixed hemangioma; but this type of method has been eliminated abroad! Currently, hemangiomas are generally classified into four categories and three types. The classification is based on the size of the hemangioma. These four categories are focal (small area), segmental (large area, diffuse), intermediate and slow-growing. In addition, based on the depth of growth, hemangiomas can be classified into three types: superficial, mixed and deep. What is a vascular malformation? What is the difference between a vascular malformation and a hemangioma? Vascular malformation is a congenital structural abnormality of blood vessels. Vascular malformation is not a tumor, while hemangioma is a tumor. Is a spongiform hemangioma a hemangioma or a vascular malformation? Spongiotic hemangioma is the traditional term that used to usually refer to infantile hemangiomas deep under the skin. Are all hemangiomas benign? Can they become malignant? What is the probability of malignancy? Infantile hemangiomas are benign tumors and do not become malignant. Vascular tumors with potentially malignant manifestations, such as Kaposi-like hemangioendothelioma, are not hemangiomas. Are hemangiomas dangerous? Is it difficult to treat? The degree of risk is inconsistent for hemangiomas of different sizes, locations and growth rates. Treatment of hemangiomas on the body surface is generally not very difficult, but hemangiomas in special areas, such as the liver and throat, can often be life-threatening if left untreated in a timely manner. Do hemangiomas run in families? Hemangioma is not hereditary, but if one parent has a hemangioma, the risk of the offspring developing hemangioma is 20-30% higher than that of other children. Can hemangioma be prevented? Is it possible that the baby will not get hemangioma if the mother pays more attention when she is pregnant? There are no preventive measures for hemangioma. However, factors such as advanced maternal age, prenatal amniocentesis, multiple pregnancies, and placenta praevia are thought to increase the incidence of hemangioma in infants and children. Do all hemangiomas need to be treated when they are present? Clinically, 80% of hemangiomas do not require any treatment. What is the choice between continued observation and treatment if I have a hemangioma? For a hemangioma, the need for treatment is based on the size of the tumor, its location, its growth rate, whether it has broken down or ulcerated, and the age of the small child. For example, if the same 2cm size hemangioma grows on the abdominal wall and the eyelid, the treatment and the way to treat it are definitely not the same. When is the best time to treat a hemangioma? We believe that for small children with hemangiomas that need treatment, then the more timely the better (the earlier the better) because the larger the hemangioma grows, the greater the likelihood of scarring or hyperpigmentation, and we should actively treat the tumor before it grows to its largest size. What are the treatment options for hemangioma? There are many treatment options for hemangioma, including oral medication (e.g. propranolol, atenolol, prednisone), topical medication (e.g. timolol), physiological treatment (e.g. laser), surgery, nucleoplasm dressing, etc. For severe hepatic hemangioma (e.g. diffuse hepatic hemangioma), some foreign scholars still use interferon, chemotherapy drugs (cyclophosphamide), etc. Which treatment is preferred for hemangioma? Why? The treatment of hemangioma is inconsistent from case to case, which requires the judgment of an experienced clinician, i.e. our emphasis on individualized treatment.