Early detection and prompt treatment of blood vessel tumours can prevent serious complications
Quite often, you may have overheard your friend or a relative talking about an acquaintance who has a cherry-red or skin-coloured tumour mass either in their leg, hand, or neck. If the sufferer places their hand over this tumour, they may feel pulsations that are sometimes even visible to the naked eye. Occasionally, you might learn about a distant relative who has a tumour mass with visible pulsations in their abdomen or chest. In a few cases, these tumours resemble bulging red cherry fruits. These red-coloured tumour masses are called, in medical terms, hemangiomas, angiomas, venous malformations, or aneurysms. In layman’s terms, these tumour masses are collectively called vascular tumours or tumours of blood vessels. One must consult a vascular surgeon promptly; otherwise, delaying the consultation may prove costly and dangerous in the end.
What Are These Vascular Tumours?Â
In the majority of cases, these tumours are congenital (present since birth) and develop due to a structural anomaly or defect in the wall of the blood vessels in the body. In childhood, these tumours are small, but as a person ages, they may gradually enlarge and sometimes become enormous in size.
Another cause of vascular tumours is a previous injury sustained during an accident, particularly to the hands or feet. Blood vessels may become damaged due to trauma, and their walls may weaken at the site of injury. The weakened wall of the blood vessel cannot withstand the high pressure of inflowing blood, leading to a bulge that forms outside the wall, either partially or fully. This bulging eventually develops into a vascular tumour.
Vascular tumours can also form due to diabetes or elevated blood cholesterol levels. In such cases, constant deposition of fat and calcium weakens the blood vessel wall, which can lead to the formation of a vascular tumour, known in medical terms as an aneurysm.
How to Recognize a Vascular Tumour?Â
If you have noticed a soft swelling in your leg or hand since childhood and have found it to have increased in size during your teens, you may have a vascular tumour. In another case, if you notice swelling in your thigh, leg, or arm just a few months after an injury and observe that the swelling is gradually increasing in size, it is likely to be a vascular tumour or aneurysm.
If you are over forty, diabetic, a smoker, have high cholesterol, and frequently experience abdominal or back pain, the possibility of developing a vascular tumour or aneurysm cannot be ruled out. These types of vascular tumours may also be visible in the neck, as the neck contains a significant number of blood vessels.
What to Do if You Suspect a Vascular Tumour?Â
If you suspect the possibility of a vascular tumour, consult a vascular surgeon. Under their supervision and advice, you may undergo important investigations such as a colour Doppler study, CT angiography, or MR angiography. Always seek treatment at hospitals with an independent vascular surgery department or where a full-time vascular surgeon is available. Only a few centres in metropolitan cities have fully developed independent departments of vascular surgery. Choose hospitals that also offer angiography and angioplasty services.
Modalities of Treatment for Vascular TumoursÂ
Once a definite diagnosis of a vascular tumour is made, considerable thought is given to the treatment modality. Surgery plays an important role in treating vascular tumours, and the services of an experienced vascular surgeon are required. In some cases, angioplasty and stenting become important tools in management. In a few cases, embolization (a blocking procedure) of the blood vessel feeding the tumour is necessary as a preliminary treatment before surgery.
To formulate an appropriate treatment strategy, several factors are considered, including the patient’s age, associated medical conditions (such as diabetes or high blood pressure), kidney and heart status, and the size and anatomy of the vascular tumour. These factors significantly influence the treatment outcome. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of both the patient and the vascular tumour is crucial for any treatment strategy.
What Will Happen if No Treatment Is Done?Â
Many people try to postpone seeking consultation and treatment, thinking that the vascular tumour is neither painful nor growing in size. Even if the tumour is growing slowly, they may believe that no treatment is needed, as it appears too small to warrant attention. They often reserve treatment for when the tumour becomes significantly larger or painful. Such erroneous thinking can sometimes be life-threatening.
These vascular tumours may end up in two ways. First, the tumour may continue to grow steadily in size and may eventually burst, leading to catastrophic bleeding and possibly death. Second, blood clots may accumulate in the tumour and its associated blood vessels. This can jeopardize the blood supply to the limbs, potentially leading to gangrene in the foot or hand. Another consequence of neglecting treatment is that if left untreated, the tumour may interfere with the growth and anatomical structure of the hand or foot during the growing years, resulting in abnormal limb shapes in adulthood.
Therefore, if you have a vascular tumour, it is important to consult a vascular surgeon without delay so that effective measures can be taken to prevent the loss of a limb or even life.
Dr K.K. Pandey
Senior Consultant, Department of Vascular and Cardiothoracic SurgeryÂ
Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New DelhiÂ
Email: dr********@***il.comÂ