Venous Angiomas are typically referred to as developmental venous anomalies (DVAs). These are considered anomalous but functional venous channels within the brain parenchyma. They are not typically paired with other vascular malformations that are a haemorrhage risk. There is disagreement in the medical community about whether Venous Angiomas are a threat to a patient’s health or not.
While these anomalies are usually large, they are not typically associated with symptoms. Some patients do not even know that they have these malformations in the intracranial space until they are tested for another health concern.
These angiomas rarely cause any symptoms and are not usually connected with bleeding, seizure, or things like trigeminal neuralgia. Even if a Venous Angioma starts to bleed, the bleed is usually managed readily and does not cause anything more than mild symptoms.
When these angiomas cause symptoms, they include:
This is the most common vascular malformation. These malformations form prior to birth and are likely caused by issues with the development and formation of the veins in utero. Venous Angiomas are not caused by drugs or medication, or any environmental factors that unborn babies are exposed to. Some patients do not even know that they have Venous Angiomas until adulthood.
There are some patients with Venous Angiomas that have genetic changes in the TIE-2 or PIK3CA gene, which could be inherited. This does indicate a possible genetic tie-in for the condition in some patients.
Your child’s doctor will need to take a full medical history before they run any tests. The lesions that are located in the head and neck might get bigger if the child is asked to “bear down” or force air from the lungs while the vocal cords are closed off. This can be a helpful part of the identification process when using imaging to find lesions.
The best way to visualise these malformations is to order MRI or CT scans. If the malformations are in the stomach or the intestines, they can be seen using telescopic equipment such as endoscopy. Capsule endoscopy can be performed as well, which requires that the patient swallow a pill with a camera in it that takes pictures of the inside of the body as it passes through the GI tract.
Treatment for Venous Angiomas can vary depending on the severity of the malformation. Most treatments are supportive. Regular follow-up care and monitoring are essential in most of these cases. Compression garments can help to prevent pain and swelling of the area that is impacted by the angioma. In some cases, sclerotherapy can also be useful to help treat discomfort and reduce the size of the malformation.
Laser therapy can be done in some patients to help reduce the size of the lesion without invasive procedures. Surgical options might vary from person to person, and most patients are advised to avoid this form of treatment unless it is absolutely necessary due to the risk of complications.
Drug therapy might be used in some patients to help prevent the risk of stroke or blood clots. Anticoagulants or low molecular weight heparins can be very effective for treatment as well.
Prevention of this condition is not possible. Venous Angiomas are present at birth and are a result of processes that are not totally understood at this time.