Vascular Malformations and Other Anomalies We Treat

Vascular anomalies expertise at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles spans a broad range of malformations and tumors. In addition to common conditions, we care for the rarest of rare syndromes. Our attention to the small details of your child’s symptoms helps us diagnose and treat anomalies with a high degree of precision.

Vascular Malformations and Tumors We Treat

We excel in caring for infants, children and adolescents with:

  • Arteriovenous malformations: Tangles of veins and arteries. These malformations disrupt circulation and prevent oxygen from reaching vital organs.
  • Port-wine stains and other capillary malformations: These anomalies occur when tiny blood vessels called capillaries widen (dilate). They often cause dark red patches of skin.
  • Hemangiomas: Tumors consisting of dense groupings of capillaries. Hemangiomas often occur in newborns but can occasionally form later in life.
  • Lymphatic malformations: Malformations of vessels that transport lymph throughout the body. Lymph is a clear fluid that’s part of the immune system.
  • Vascular tumors: Blood vessel growths that are often not cancerous.
  • Venous malformations: Clusters of veins that may be misshapen, dilated or stretched out. They are often painful.

Expert Care for Overgrowth Syndromes and Other Vascular Anomalies

Our team delivers the highest level of testing and treatment for complex syndromes. These conditions may include various types of anomalies and affect many organs.

PIK3CA-related and other overgrowth syndromes

These syndromes cause excessive tissue growth leading to large, misshapen features. In some children, one limb becomes longer than the other. These syndromes are often due to mutations in the PIK3CA gene, which controls cell growth.

PIK3CA-related and other overgrowth syndromes we treat include:

  • CLAPO syndrome: CLAPO stands for Capillary malformations, especially in the lower lip; Lymphatic malformations, especially on the neck or face; Asymmetrical facial features or limbs (meaning they are dissimilar from one another); and Partial or generalized Overgrowth.
  • CLOVES syndrome: CLOVES is a collection of conditions, and stands for Congenital (present at birth), Lipomatous (fatty) Overgrowths, Vascular malformations, Epidermal nevi (noncancerous skin growths) and Scoliosis (skeletal or spinal deformities).
  • Proteus syndrome: This syndrome involves overgrowths that can affect bones and organs in any area of the body.
  • Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome: This condition includes port-wine stains, bone and soft tissue overgrowths and venous malformations.

Additional vascular anomalies and syndromes we treat

Experts at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have experience treating additional vascular anomalies syndromes.

These include:

  • Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: This is a vascular disorder causing dark blue, black or purplish-red skin growths. These growths can also occur in the skin and along the digestive tract, including the small intestine.
  • Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA): This condition typically arises within limb muscles and is comprised of fibrous, fatty tissue. These changes result in ongoing pain and discomfort.
  • Gorham-Stout disease: Also known as vanishing bone disease, this disorder involves lymphatic malformations and bone loss affecting the ribs, spine, pelvis, jaw and other areas.
  • Hemangioma thrombocytopenia syndrome: This is also called Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. Fast-growing vascular tumors destroy cells essential to blood clotting.
  • LUMBAR syndrome: LUMBAR stands for Lower body hemangiomas, Urinary system anomalies, Myelopathy, Bone deformities, Anorectal malformations and Renal anomalies. The syndrome is characterized by hemangiomas affecting the lower body and reproductive or urinary system, spinal cord damage (myelopathy), bone deformities, anus or rectum (anorectal) malformations, arterial anomalies and kidney (renal) anomalies.
  • Parkes Weber syndrome: In this syndrome, a limb contains large or multiple abnormal connections between blood vessels known as arteriovenous malformations. The skin is often discolored and the limb enlarged or elongated compared to the other.
  • Sturge-Weber syndrome: This condition includes a port-wine birthmark, brain anomaly (leptomeningeal angioma) and high eye pressure (glaucoma).

Comprehensive Vascular Anomalies Care for Children

We offer access to multiple pediatric subspecialists in one convenient location in Los Angeles. Find out more about our Vascular Anomalies Center.

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