Birthmarks and vascular anomalies: Our team of experts serves children and adults

We use state-of-the art genomics (the study of a patient’s genes) and precision-based medicine to make accurate diagnoses and identify targeted therapies for each patient. Our team of vascular anomalies experts from multiple fields creates a personalized treatment plan for each patient.

Overview

Lessening discomfort, improving appearance, enhancing quality of life

Vascular anomalies refer to blood vessels that develop in an unusual way. Sometimes they result in what we commonly call birthmarks.

They can appear on the surface of the skin. Other times, vascular anomalies occur deep inside the body. They can lead to tangled clusters of arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels or capillaries. 

We treat all vascular anomalies in our Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies Program. Our team of experts serves children and adults. We identify the cause of the problem and initiate treatments that reduce symptoms, improve function and restore appearance.

Conditions

Specialized care for all

In some cases, vascular anomalies are present at birth. In others, they appear later in life and grow over time. We treat people of all ages with all types of vascular anomalies.

These conditions fall into several groups.

Vascular anomalies syndromes

Disorders related to genetic changes in the PiK3CA gene

  • CLOVES syndrome — A rare condition that can cause overgrowth of fatty tissue at birth or vascular malformations. It can also cause an abnormal area of skin due to the overgrowth of certain cells and problems with your spine or bones. 

  • Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome — A disorder that commonly causes port-wine stains, overgrowth of tissues and bones and blood vessel malformations. 

  • Megalencephaly-capillary malformation syndrome — A condition that causes a large head, port-wine stains and the overgrowth of certain body tissues.

These disorders are related to the RASA1 gene. 

  • Capillary malformation arteriovenous malformation syndrome — With this condition, you may have isolated port-wine stains. Some people may have underlying arteriovenous malformations. 

  • Parkes-Weber syndrome – A condition that may cause port-wine stains, overgrowth of your limbs and arteriovenous malformations or fistulas (an abnormal connection between two body parts). In the long term, this condition may lead to heart failure.

Lymphatic anomaly syndromes include varied disorders of lymphatic dysfunction, fluid collection, and involvement of bone and visceral tissue.

  • Generalized Lymphatic Anomalies (GLA)

  • Kaposiform Lymphangiomatosis (KLA)

  • Gorham Stout Disease

  • Central Conducting Lymphatic Anomaly (CCLA)

Vascular malformations and tumors

Vascular malformations involve the vessels in your body. 

  • Arteriovenous malformations — Develop when arteries connect directly to veins. Normally very tiny blood vessels called capillaries connect the two.

  • Capillary malformations — A birthmark that looks like a flat, red or pink stain on the skin. These are often called port-wine stains. 

  • Lymphatic malformations — Occur when your lymphatic system, which helps the body maintain fluid balance and fight infection, doesn’t form properly. This can cause swelling in certain body tissues. 

  • Venous malformations — Abnormally shaped veins that don’t work as they should. Over time, they can stretch or enlarge and become very painful. 

  • Combined vascular malformations — Disorders that involve two or more types of vessel abnormalities. They are present at birth.

Vascular tumors develop from cells that make lymph or blood vessels. 

  • Congenital hemangiomas — Tumors that are present at birth. 

  • Infantile hemangiomas — A type of birthmark made of blood vessels. You don’t usually see it at birth. Once it appears, it often looks like a small bruise or a red bump. It may grow in the first few months of life and then get smaller over time. 

  • PHACE syndrome — A condition that involves a large hemangioma in the head or face that occurs with other anomalies.

Improving dermatology care through research

UW Health Kids dermatologists and researchers study skin biology and conditions to improve care for your child. Our team specializes in research in hemangiomas and vascular birthmarks and inflammatory skin disease. 

Learn about our clinical trials

Treatments and research

Treatments and research

There are many treatment options for vascular anomalies. We decide which treatment is best for you based on your unique condition.

Treatments we offer

In some cases, we watch your condition to see if it changes. If we determine you need treatment, it may include:

A procedure that closes an abnormal vessel from the inside. This involves using special glues or particles.

Uses light-based therapies to treat complex malformations that involve certain types of blood vessels.

We may use medicine in certain cases if we think they may help.

This involves injecting a substance through your skin into your malformation. The treatment causes scarring on the wall of the blood vessel. That scarring may help destroy or shrink the problem area.

Removes all or part of the vascular anomaly. Sometimes, we combine surgery with other treatments. We may also use surgery to reconstruct areas disfigured by the malformation or to correct functional problems.

Treatment that focuses on the genetic changes that are part of certain syndromes.

Current research

Smiling child with sign reading UW Health Kids
UW Health Kids
Our pediatric experts have served the special needs of children for more than 100 years. We focus on each child’s unique needs and offer social and emotional support to help you and your child face even the most complex condition. Our long history includes the creation of medical advances that save lives around the world. Together, we get your child back to health and enjoying being a kid.

Meet our team

Broad expertise, extensive experience

The UW Health Vascular Anomalies Team participates in ground-breaking research to identify solutions for vascular anomalies.

Our program has a team of experts ready to help. We have specialists in:

  • Dermatology 

  • Ear, nose and throat

  • General surgery 

  • Heart care 

  • Hematology 

  • Interventional radiology 

  • Neurosurgery

  • Ophthalmology 

  • Pathology 

  • Plastic and reconstructive surgery 

  • Radiology 


Our combined expertise helps you get the best care.

Our providers

Patient support

Answers to common questions

It’s common to have questions if you or your child has a vascular anomaly.

Frequently asked questions

A vascular anomaly is a group of blood vessel disorders that that may cause pain, swelling, bleeding, or visible disfigurement.

Some vascular anomalies are caused by abnormalities in specific genes. Others do not have a known cause.

Anyone can get vascular anomalies. They may be present at birth or grow over time. In some cases, they do not become visible or symptomatic until months or years later. Some vascular anomalies syndromes may run in families.

Making a proper diagnosis is required to determine the appropriate treatment options. This requires a detailed clinical history and examination. Often, imaging such as ultrasound or MRI may be needed for confirmation. Sometimes a biopsy is performed to confirm a diagnosis.

Often vascular anomalies are not painful, although some specific types may be. In addition to the potential for causing pain, some may cause functional problems if they grow very large or become infected.

A vascular malformation is made up of arteries, veins, capillaries, or lymphatic vessels. There are several different types of malformations and they are named according to which type of blood vessel is predominantly affected.

A hemangioma is a type of birthmark caused by an abnormal buildup of small blood vessels (capillaries) on or under the surface of the skin. A may look like a red wine- or strawberry-colored birthmark and may protrude from the skin. They are usually present at birth, or shortly after birth. Hemangiomas do not appear as a new spot in an adult.

No. A Port-Wine stain is a capillary malformation, while a hemangioma is considered a vascular "tumor." The expected natural history is different between these two entities, and the treatments may also be different.

Infantile hemangiomas are likely to decrease in size over time. Sometimes the process leaves behind areas of residual color difference or excess tissue that may require treatment. Congenital hemangiomas are typically full size at birth and may or may not resolve completely.

If a hemangioma or vascular malformation is very large, affects the airway or lungs, or bleeds uncontrollably it could be life-threatening.

No. While surgical removal might be necessary, topical or oral medications, blockage of the blood vessels, or laser treatment may be used.


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Expert care for children and adults

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