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 hemangiomas on the spine go away?

Proliferation subsequently causes a displacement of bone and in rarer cases erosion into the spinal canal. Unlike infantile hemangiomas, hemangiomas of the spine do not spontaneously regress.

How common are hemangiomas on the spine?

Spinal hemangiomas are widespread: they are present in about 10% of people. In fact, they are the most common benign spinal tumors.

Do spinal hemangiomas grow?

About Spinal Hemangioma These tumors grow on the vertebrae (bones) of the back and are typically found incidentally. If a hemangioma is asymptomatic, treatment is usually unnecessary. However, if these tumors continue to grow and press on nerves in the spine, they should be treated to prevent neurological damage.

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 vertebral hemangiomas cause pain?

Symptoms of spinal hemangioma 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 spinal hemangioma cause paralysis?

Diagnosis of spinal hemangioma If your spinal hemangioma is found accidentally – if you don’t have any symptoms – you may not need to do anything about it. But it’s important to get treatment for a painful hemangioma, as it may affect your movements. In rare cases, it may cause paralysis.

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.

Why do I have hemangiomas in my 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.

Can vertebral hemangiomas be 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.