Pediatric surgeon Brian Gilchrist, MD, graduated from the Tufts School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, after which he completed his pediatric fellowship at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Possessing more than 30 years’ experience in pediatric surgery practice, research, and teaching, Brian Gilchrist, MD, has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers relating to medical conditions like vascular lesions.
Vascular lesions are skin and tissue abnormalities present at birth that are often referred to as birthmarks. The three types of vascular lesions are: hemangiomas, pyogenic granulomas, and vascular malformations. Hemangiomas are by far the most prevalent type in children.
Hemangiomas are benign (non-cancerous) tumors forming on the cells lining blood vessels. They appear as faint red patches on the skin of a baby after birth. With time, they grow in size and darken in color. In severe cases, they can grow outward, leaving an ulcer on the skin and causing bleeding which, can lead to infection.
In many cases, hemangiomas grow for six to 12 months before hitting a peak, stabilizing, and then going into involution (shrinking). After this final stage, the lesions become small and faded.
Doctors often monitor hemangiomas as they go through the phases of growth, stabilization, and involution without treatment. However, some hemangiomas ulcerate, prompting medical intervention. Others grow in sensitive areas such as the eyelid or ear canal, interfering with eyesight and hearing, similarly prompting intervention. Treatment usually takes the form of medication and surgery.
Brian Gilchrist 