Treatment of Hemangioma
1. Nonsurgical Treatment
Observation. Although a hemangioma may not require any treatment, it is important to visit your doctor regularly to monitor any changes in the tumor.

Beta blocker medication. Beta blockers are a medication that may be recommended depending on the type and size of a hemangioma. For certain types, such as superficial and infantile hemangiomas, beta blockers may be given as orally (in pill form) with the goal of slowing the lesion’s growth.

Anti-inflammatory medication. If a hemangioma is growing near vital structures, such as the nose, lips, or eyelids, your doctor may recommend steroid medication. Steroids are often used to slow down the growth of the tumor. The drugs may be injected directly into the hemangioma or given orally.

Compression. Intermittent pneumatic compression is a treatment that uses inflatable sleeves or leggings to apply pressure to the tumor. It can helping in decreasing the swelling associated with a hemangioma. It will not, however, make the hemangioma go away.

Embolization. In this procedure, the blood supply to the tumor is closed off. This is a minimally invasive procedure where small particles are injected into the blood vessels to block them off. Sclerotherapy is a similar procedure where chemical agents are used to close off the vessels. These procedures can be very helpful in shrinking the tumor and decreasing pain. Often, however, the tumor will regrow its blood supply over time after these procedures. Embolization is also sometimes used prior to surgery to reduce the risk of heavy blood loss.

Laser treatment. For some patients, lasers can be helpful in removing a tumor, priming a tumor for other treatments, or decreasing pain and other unwanted symptoms. Depending on the size of the tumor and its location, multiple laser treatments may be needed. Laser treatment is typically reserved for hemangiomas involving the skin.

2. Surgical Treatment
Surgery may be recommended for a cavernous hemangioma if the lesion is destroying the healthy tissues surrounding it. In some cases, a hemangioma can cause painful symptoms severe enough to consider surgical treatment.

Procedure. The procedure to surgically remove a hemangioma is called an excision. General anesthesia is used to put you to sleep, then your doctor will make an incision in your skin and cut the tumor out.

Recovery. You will likely have stitches, which your doctor will remove within a few weeks. Your doctor will wrap the area with a compressive bandage and provide you with specific instructions about activity restrictions to guide your recovery.

Complications. The most common complication of surgery to remove a hemangioma is hemorrhage (blood loss). In addition, hemangiomas have a high tendency to come back after surgery, depending upon the type and location of the tumor.