Categories
News on Health & Science

Less Carbs Slow Prostate Tumour Growth

[amazon_link asins=’1592337619,B06XR527WG,B000GOUZKU,1451660847,B01KCS88N0,B0759WL67L,B018HA3CW2,B074N7XZQV,B00NTC0E4S’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’64e42032-912c-11e7-80d2-2736d9583032′]

Cutting down on carbohydrates may slow prostate tumour growth, according to a study conducted on animals.

“Researchers believe that insulin and insulin-like growth factor contribute to the proliferation of

prostate cancer,” said Stephen Freedland, urologist at the Duke Prostate Centre and lead investigator on this study.

“Previous work here and elsewhere has shown that a diet light in carbohydrates could slow tumour growth. But the animals in those studies also lost weight and because we know that weight loss can restrict the amount of energy feeding tumours. We weren’t able to tell just how big an impact the pure carbohydrate restriction was having until now,” Freedland added.

Animals in the study were fed one of three diets: a very high fat/no carbohydrate diet, a low-fat/high carbohydrate diet and a high fat/moderate-carbohydrate diet, which is most similar to the diet most Americans eat, Freedland said.

They were then injected with prostate tumours at the same time.

“The mice that were fed a no-carbohydrate diet experienced a 40-50 percent prolonged survival over the other mice,” Freedland said.

Mice on the no-carbohydrate diet consumed more calories in order to keep body weights consistent with mice on the other study arms. “We found that carbohydrate restriction without energy restriction – or weight loss – does indeed result in tumour growth delay,” he said.

Patients are likely to be recruited by Duke and California (Los Angeles) Universities, for further clinical trials within a few weeks, said a Duke release.

Sources: The Times Of India

Enhanced by Zemanta
Categories
Diagnonistic Test

Lymph Node Biopsy

[amazon_link asins=’0781775965,B011DBLE40,1107624541,1498732690,1521903689,B01EVFUGT4,B01EQ55CIE,B01EKJ4GKQ,1441969632′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’80fc1c79-8f24-11e7-98d9-9f1a8d8b2f82′]

Introduction :A lymph node biopsy removes lymph node tissue to be looked at under a microscope for signs of infection or a disease, such as cancer. Other tests may also be used to check the lymph tissue sample, including a culture, genetic tests, or tests to study the body’s immune system (immunological tests).

…………....CLICK & SEE

Lymph nodes are part of the immune system. They are found in the neck, behind the ears, in the armpits, and in the chest, belly, and groin. You may click see an illustration of lymph nodes and the immune system.

Lymph nodes in healthy people are usually hard to feel. However, lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin can get bigger and become tender. Swollen lymph nodes usually mean an infection, but the swelling can also be caused by a cut, scratch, insect bite, tattoo, a drug reaction, or cancer.

There are several ways to do a lymph node biopsy. The lymph node sample will be looked at under a microscope for problems.

The nodes produce and harbor infection-fighting white blood cells (lymphocytes) that attack both infectious agents and cancer cells. Cancer, infection, and some other diseases can change the appearance of lymph nodes. For that reason, your doctor may ask a surgeon to remove lymph nodes, to be examined microscopically for evidence of these problems.

Usually, one or more entire lymph nodes are removed and examined under the microscope by a pathologist. On occasion, the doctor does a needle biopsy to remove a portion of a lymph node to see whether a cancer already diagnosed has spread to that point.

How it is done:There are several ways to do a lymph node biopsy. The lymph node sample will be looked at under a microscope for problems.

*A fine-needle aspiration biopsy puts a thin needle into the lymph node and removes cells to look at. A needle biopsy is done to check the cause of a big lymph node.

*A core needle biopsy uses a needle fitted with a special tip. The needle goes through the skin to the lymph node to take a sample of tissue about the size of a pencil lead.

*An open biopsy makes a cut in the skin and removes the lymph node. If more than one lymph node is taken, the biopsy is called a lymph node dissection. Open biopsy and lymph node dissection let your doctor take a bigger sample than a needle biopsy.

Why It Is Done:
Lymph node biopsy is done to:

*Check the cause of enlarged lymph nodes that do not return to normal size on their own.

*Check the cause of symptoms, such as an ongoing fever, night sweats, or weight loss.

*Check to see if a known cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. This is called staging and is done to plan cancer treatment.

*Remove cancer.

How to prepare yourself for the test:

Tell your doctor if you:

*Are taking any medicines.

*Are allergic to any medicines, including anesthetics.

*Are allergic to latex.

* You’re taking NSAIDs or any medications that might cause bleeding.

* You have a condition that bleeds easily such as an ulcer in your stomach or small intestine, or if you’re pregnant.

*Have any bleeding problems or take blood thinners, such as aspirin, heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox), or clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix).

You will be asked to sign a consent form. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the biopsy, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will indicate. To help you understand the importance of the biopsy, fill out the medical test information.

If you take a blood thinner, you will probably need to stop taking it for a week before the biopsy.

If a lymph node biopsy is done under local anesthesia, you do not need to do anything else to prepare for the biopsy.

If the biopsy is done under general anesthesia, do not eat or drink anything for 8 to 12 hours before the biopsy. An intravenous line (IV) is put in your arm, and a sedative medication is given about an hour before the biopsy. Arrange for someone to drive you home if you have general anesthesia or are given a sedative.

Other tests, such as blood tests or X-rays, may be done before the lymph node biopsy.

How It Is Done:
This depends on the location of the lymph nodes to be biopsied. Fortunately many lymph nodes, such as those in your neck, armpits, and groin, are found close to the surface of the skin. These can all be reached through an incision in the skin.

Some lymph nodes are located deeper in your body, such as in the middle of your chest. To reach them, your doctor may insert a tube-like viewing instrument (a scope) through a slit in the skin into the target area to see the lymph nodes, and then remove them with tiny surgical scissors located at the end of the scope. Sometimes removing lymph nodes for microscopic examination requires surgery.

When lymph nodes beneath the skin are biopsied, you lie on an examining table. The doctor cleans the skin at the biopsy site and injects a local anesthetic. Next, the doctor makes a small incision in the skin and the tissue just beneath it until he or she can see the lymph node and cut it out. Following such a biopsy, it’s normal to bleed slightly. After applying pressure to the incision site to stop the bleeding, the doctor will cover the area with a bandage. You’ll usually be able to go home within several hours.When a biopsy involves inserting a scope, or surgery, general anesthesia may be required.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy:-
A needle biopsy of a big lymph node near the skin is usually done by a hematologist, a radiologist, or a general surgeon. A needle biopsy of a lymph node deeper within the body is usually done by a radiologist using a CT scan or ultrasound to help guide the needle. The biopsy may be done in a surgery clinic or the hospital.

You will need to take off all or most of your clothes (you may be allowed to keep on your underwear if it does not interfere with the biopsy). You will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the biopsy.

Your doctor numbs your skin where the needle will be inserted. Once the area is numb, the needle is put through the skin and into the lymph node. The biopsy sample is sent to a lab to be looked at under a microscope. You must lie still while the biopsy is done.

The needle is then removed. Pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is put on. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy takes about 5 to 15 minutes.

You may click to see an illustration of a fine-needle lymph node biopsy.

Core needle biopsy:-
A core needle biopsy is usually done by a general surgeon or radiologist.

You will need to take off all or most of your clothes (you may be allowed to keep on your underwear if it does not interfere with the biopsy). You will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the biopsy.

Your doctor numbs your skin where the needle will be inserted. Once the area is numb, a small cut is made in the skin. A needle with a special tip is put through the skin and into the lymph node. You must lie still while the biopsy is done.

The needle is then removed. Pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is put on. A core needle biopsy takes about 20 minutes.

You may click to see an illustration of a core needle lymph node biopsy.

Open biopsy and lymph node dissection:-
An open biopsy of a lymph node is done by a surgeon. For a lymph node near the surface of the skin, the biopsy site is numbed with local anesthetic. For a lymph node deeper in the body or for lymph node dissection, you may have general anesthesia.

You will need to take off all or most of your clothes (you may be allowed to keep on your underwear if it does not interfere with the biopsy). You will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the biopsy. Your hands may be at your sides or raised above your head (depending on which position makes it easiest to find the lymph node).

You will lie on an examining table and the skin over the biopsy site will be cleaned with a special soap. The area is covered with a sterile sheet. A small cut will be made so the whole lymph node or a slice of it can be taken out.

Stitches are used to close the skin, and a bandage is put on. You will be taken to a recovery room until you are fully awake. You can usually return to your normal activities the next day.

An open biopsy usually takes from 30 to 60 minutes. If you have had a lymph node dissection to remove cancer, the surgery may take longer.

You may click to see an illustration of an open lymph node biopsy

How It Feels:
You will feel only a quick sting from the needle if you have a local anesthesia to numb the skin. You may feel some pressure when the biopsy needle is put in. After a fine-needle aspiration biopsy or core needle biopsy, the site may be tender for 2 to 3 days. You also may have a bruise around the site.

If you have general anesthesia for an open lymph node biopsy, you will not be awake during the biopsy. After you wake up, the area may be numb from a local anesthetic that was put into the biopsy site. You will also feel sleepy for several hours.

For 1 to 2 days after an open lymph node biopsy, you may feel tired. You may also have a mild sore throat from the tube that was used to help you breathe during the biopsy. Using throat lozenges and gargling with warm salt water may help with the sore throat.

After an open biopsy, the area may feel tender, firm, swollen, and bruised. You may have fluid collect near the biopsy site. You may also have fluid leak from the biopsy site. The tenderness should go away in about a week, and the bruising usually fades within 2 weeks. However, the firmness and swelling may last for 6 to 8 weeks. Do not do any heavy lifting or other activities that stretch or pull the muscles around the area.

Risk Factors:

The biopsy site will feel tender for a few days. There’s a slight risk of infection or bleeding. Depending on the location of the lymph node being removed, there is a slight risk of blood vessel or nerve damage. An infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Call your doctor immediately if:

*Your pain lasts longer than a week.

*You have redness, a lot of swelling, bleeding, or pus from the biopsy site.

*You have a fever.

*There is fluid buildup in the area where the lymph node was taken out (lymphedema). This occurs most often when removing the lymph nodes that run in a line from under the arm to the collarbone (axillary lymph nodes). This can happen immediately after surgery or even months or years later. Most people who have a lymph node biopsy do not have a problem with lymphedema.

*Numbness in the skin near the biopsy site. This may be caused by nerve damage.

Results:
A lymph node biopsy removes lymph node tissue to be looked at under a microscope for signs of infection or a disease, such as cancer. Test results from a lymph node biopsy are usually available within a few days. Finding some types of infections may take longer.

The lymph node sample is usually treated with special dyes (stains) that color the cells and make problems more visible.

Lymph node biopsy  Normal: The lymph node has normal numbers of lymph node cells.

The structure of the lymph node and the appearance of the cells in it are normal.

No signs of infection are present.

Abnormal: Signs of infection, such as mononucleosis (mono) or tuberculosis (TB), may be present.

Cancer cells may be present. Cancer may begin in the lymph node, such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or may have spread from other sites, such as in metastatic breast cancer.

What Affects the Test:
A needle biopsy takes tissue from a small area, so there is a chance that a cancer may be missed.

How long is it before the result of the test is known?
Results will probably be ready in several days.

Resources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/diagnostics/lymph-node-biopsy.shtml
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/lymph-node-biopsy

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Categories
Micro Surgery

New CyberKnife Technology to Treat Cancer

[amazon_link asins=’B000E8SU9G,354069885X,B01DBMSM1M,B00F75HW36′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a470d602-27ed-11e7-8d02-c97786284f50′]

Introduction:
Breakthroughs in imaging and robotics technology have been combined in the revolutionary new Cyberknife radiosurgery system.CyberKnife technology involves no cuts or incisions whatsoever. It destroys diseased tissue by precisely focusing multiple beams of high-energy radiation on the tumor site. It is specifically designed for treating the most complex and difficult tumors – cancers of the lung, spine, pancreas or brain.

Sub-millimeter accuracy:
The sub-millimeter accuracy of the CyberKnife system is unmatched. Combining advanced robotic technology and an innovative image guidance system, the CyberKnife can treat tumors in or near sensitive structures such as the spine, brain and lungs.

It is the only radiosurgery system in the world with real-time tumor tracking. The CyberKnife moves and adapts to patient movement, including breathing. Because the CyberKnife doesn’t require an external frame, it can be used outside the cranial area.

How does it work?
The CyberKnife radiosurgery system uses a linear accelerator (linac) to produce and deliver focused beams of radiation to the tumor site. Using image guidance cameras, the exact shape and position of the tumor is identified. The linac, which is attached to a robotic arm, delivers multiple beams of radiation that converge at the tumor site. The tumor receives a concentrated dose of radiation while minimizing exposure to surrounding normal tissue.

The CyberKnife system is the first device to enable full-body dynamic radiosurgery and makes possible effective new treatments in clinical areas such as spine, lung and pancreas.

CyberKnife Machine

Key benefits:-
Treatment planning
The CyberKnife system provides multiple planning and delivery options. It is the only radiosurgery system with the capability to provide non-isocentric treatment planning.

No immobilization
Unlike conventional radiosurgery systems, the CyberKnife system does not require the use of a head or body frame to immobilize the patient. CyberKnife’s intelligent robotics detect and correct for any patient movement and/or respiration.

Localization:
With robotic image guidance technology, the CyberKnife system is the only radiosurgery system that tracks patient and lesion positions during the entire treatment process. This portion of CyberKnife’s intelligent robotics system continuously scans and detects any patient or lesion movement and makes any necessary corrections. The CyberKnife’s Synchronyâ„¢ technology tracks respiratory motion and adjusts for patient breathing.

Treatment delivery
The CyberKnife system’s robotic arm provides multiple targeting nodes and adjusts to compensate for any patient movement detected by the robotic guidance technology. This ensures sub-millimeter accuracy with each procedure.

For more information or to request a second opinion please click here or call the St. Luke‘s second opinion program at 888-649-6892.

What to expect:-
Initial visit
At your convenience, an outpatient planning session will be conducted. During the visit, a custom mask or body mold designed to inhibit movement during CyberKnife treatment will be created. The molding process is simple and painless.

A CT scan and possibly an MRI are performed to confirm the exact size, shape and location of your tumor, along with surrounding vital structures. All are used for treatment planning purposes.

Patients undergoing extracranial (non-head) treatment also require the implant of small metal markers (fiducials) prior to the initial set-up. This procedure is also done on an outpatient basis.

Treatment visits
On the day of your treatment, you will be asked to wear comfortable clothing and no jewelry. Because CyberKnife treatment is painless, no anesthesia is required. You will lie on a treatment table and will be fitted with the mask or body mold created earlier.

During your treatment, you will be asked to lie still. You will be awake throughout the entire procedure, which typically lasts 30 to 90 minutes. The image guidance system periodically takes x-ray images and compares them to data from the CT scan to ensure that the treatment is accurately targeted.

Treatment sessions are performed on an outpatient basis. In most cases, you can resume normal activities immediately upon leaving the hospital.

Follow-up visits
As with any radiosurgery or radiation therapy procedure, follow-up imaging and physician consultation are required to monitor your progress.

For more information or to request a 2nd opinion please click here or call the St. Luke’s 2nd opinion program at 888-649-6892.

Click to Learn more about the CyberKnife procedure

Click to see:->

Treat cancer with Cyberknife
Emerging Treatments for Cancer Using CyberKnife Technology

CyberKnife: Technology to Transform Lives

Now, CyberKnife technology to treat cancer in India

Sources:
http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/cancer/treatments/radiationoncology/cyberknife/index.asp

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Categories
Featured

Three Cups of Tea a Day Slashes Your Breast Cancer Risk

[amazon_link asins=’B008DVSATQ,B00S9X4AHE,B00XEIS9DU,B007P15FMK,B01LZAFL7V,B01F4897EC,B0073MXRTO,B00R35QZT0,B0108KXS6Y’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’839342ea-5fa8-11e7-82b0-abbec1e9487c’]

Just three cups of tea a day can reduce the risk of breast cancer in young women. New research shows that the chances of developing a tumor drop by around 37 percent in women under 50 who drank tea at least three times daily.

Older women who consumed similar amounts did not see a the same benefit; researchers theorized that the anti-cancer properties of tea may have a more potent effect on the types of tumors that tend to grow in younger women.

Although the health benefits of tea are well known, they have long been considered to mostly affect heart disease. A study last year showed four cups a day could reduce your risk of a heart attack. However, other recent studies have suggested that tea can protect against skin cancer, ovarian cancer and even weak bones.

Sources:The Daily Mail January 21, 2009

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Hemangioma

DEFINITION:
Hemangiomas are simply a collection of extra blood vessels in the skin. They may have different appearances depending on the depth of the increased numbers of blood vessels.

A hemangioma is a benign self involuting tumour of endothelial cells (the cells that line blood vessels) Haemangiomas of infancy They are connected to the circulatory system and filled with blood. The appearance depends location. If they are on the surface of the skin the look like a ripe strawberry, if they are just under the skin the present as a bluish swelling. Sometimes they grow in internal organs such as the liver or larynx. In most cases, hemangiomas will disappear over time. They are formed either during gestation or most commonly they are not present at birth but appear during the first few weeks of life. They are often misdiagnosed, initially, as a scratch or bruise but the diagnosis becomes obvious with further growth. Typically at the earliest phase in a superficial lesion one will see a bluish red area with obvious blood vessels and surrounding pallor. Sometimes they present as a flat red or pink area. Hemangiomas are the most common childhood tumor occurring in approximately ten percent of Caucasians, and are less prevalent in other races. Females are three to five times more likely to have hemangiomas than males. They are also more common in twin pregnancies. Approximately eighty percent are located on the face and neck, with the next most prevalent location being the liver. Although hemangiomas are benign, some serious complications can occur.

Before considering the hemangioma it is important to understand that there have been recent changes in the terminology used to define vascular anomalies (abnormal lumps made up of blood vessels). The term hemangioma was originally used to describe any vascular tumour both present around birth or appearing later in life. Mulliken et al separated these conditions into a family of self involuting tumours (growing lesions that eventually disappear) from the family of malformations (enlarged or abormal vessels present at birth and essentially permanent. The importance of this separation is that allows us to differentiate early in life between lesions that will resolve versus those that are permanent. Examples of permanent malformations include Port-wine stains (capillary vascular malformation) and masses of abnormal swollen veins (venous malformations).Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations in Infants and Children: A Classification Based on Endothelial Characteristics. Unfortunately many textbooks and dictionaries are not up to date creating great confusion.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTUTES

Types:
1.Strawberry Hemangioma is an abnormal collection of blood vessels in the skin characterized by a bright red color and well-defined border.

2.A Deep or Cavernous Hemangioma is a large, collection of blood vessels beneath the skin surface characterized by a soft, bluish, or skin colored mass.

3.A Combined Hemangioma is a combination of a deep and superficial (strawberry) hemangioma.

There are two types of liver hemangioma: cavernous and hemangioendothelioma. Hemangioendotheliomata are generally seen only in children.Click learn about cavernous hemangioma,

HOW COMMON ARE THEY?

Hemangiomas are one of the most common birthmarks in newborns. Most hemangiomas are not present at birth but develop within the first few weeks to months of life. They are found in up to 10 percent of babies by the age of one.

CAUSES:
The cause of hemangioma is currently unknown; however, several studies have suggested the importance of estrogen signaling in hemangioma proliferation. In 2007, a paper from the Stanford Children’s Surgical Laboratory revealed that localized soft tissue hypoxia coupled with increased circulating estrogen after birth may be the stimulus. There is also a hypothesis presented by researchers at Harvard and the University of Arkansas that maternal placenta embolizes to the fetal dermis during gestation resulting in hemangiomagenesis, yet Duke researchers conducted genetic analyses of small nucleotide polymorphisms in hemangioma tissue compared to the mother’s DNA that contradicted this notion. More research is required in order to fully understand the explosive nature of hemangioma growth which will hopefully yield targeted therapeutics to treat its most complicated presentations.
In very rare instances they may run in families, but in general they are not inherited. For a parent with a child with this birthmark, there is no increased risk of having a subsequent child with a hemangioma. Hemangiomas are more common in girl babies than boys. They are also more commonly seen in premature infants.
TYPICAL GROWTH PATTERN OF HEMANGIOMAS:

Age of Child..………..Hemangiomas
Birth………………… often not present or noticeable
1-2 months……… becomes noticeable
1-6 months……… grows most rapidly
12-18………………. months begins to shrink (involute)


WHEN WILL THEY GO AWAY?

Hemangiomas usually involute (shrink away) in time. 30% of hemangiomas will resolve by 3 years of age 50% by 5 years of age, and 80%-90% by 9 years of age. Over one-half of hemangiomas heal with an excellent cosmetic result without treatment.

COMPLICATIONS:

The vast majority of hemangiomas are not associated with complications. Hemangiomas may break down on the surface to form ulcers. If the ulceration is deep, significant bleeding may rarely occur. Ulceration on the diaper area can be painful and problematic.

If a hemangioma develops in the larynx, breathing can be compromised. A hemangioma can grow and block one of the eyes, causing an occlusion amblyopia. Very rarely, extremely large hemangiomas can cause high-output heart failure due to the amount of blood that must be pumped to excess blood vessels. Lesions adjacent to bone can also cause erosion of the bone.

The most frequent complaints about hemangiomas, however, stem from psychosocial complications: the condition can affect a person’s appearance and can provoke attention and malicious reactions from others. Particular problems occur if the lip or nose is involved, as distortion can be difficult to treat surgically.

Some hemangiomas can cause significant problems, however. Scenarios that may be more complicated and require treatment include:

1) Involvement of a vital organ, like the eye or ear, or windpipe
2) Bleeding
3) Ulceration
4) Crusting or infection
5) Rapid growth and deformity of the surrounding tissues

Hemangiomas in certain areas may have a higher risk of complications. These areas include the face (especially nose and lips), body folds, and groin. Hemangiomas in certain locations, which affect function, or are complicated by infection or ulceration, may be treated with laser, medication, or injections. If any worrisome signs appear such as these listed above, please contact your physician.

TREATMENT:

Most hemangiomas disappear without treatment, leaving minimal or no visible marks. Large hemangiomas can leave visible skin changes secondary to severe stretching of the skin or damage to surface texture. When hemangiomas interfere with vision, breathing, or threaten significant cosmetic injury, they are usually treated. The mainstay of treatment is oral corticosteroid therapy. Other drugs such as interferon or vincristine are sometimes considered if the corticosteroids do not work. If this fails, surgical removal often becomes necessary. Blockage of the airway will often require a tracheostomy to be performed (insertion of an external airway through the front of the neck into the trachea below the level of the obstruction). Smaller raised lesions are sometimes treated with injection of corticosteroid directly into the lesion. Pulsed dye laser can be useful for very early flat superficial lesions if they appear in cosmetically significant areas or for those lesions that leave residual surface blood vessels in the case of incomplete resolution. Unfortunately raised lesions or lesions under the skin do not respond to laser.

Ulceration will usually heal with topical medication and special dressings under medical supervision. Sometimes pulsed dye laser can be used to accelerate healing.

HEMANGIOMAS THAT NEED TREATMENT:
Some hemangiomas can cause significant problems, however. Scenarios that may be more complicated and require treatment include:

1) Involvement of a vital organ, like the eye or ear, or windpipe
2) Bleeding
3) Ulceration
4) Crusting or infection
5) Rapid growth and deformity of the surrounding tissues

Hemangiomas in certain areas may have a higher risk of complications. These areas include the face (especially nose and lips), body folds, and groin. Hemangiomas in certain locations, which affect function, or are complicated by infection or ulceration, may be treated with laser, medication, or injections. If any worrisome signs appear such as these listed above, please contact your physician.

In many instances no treatment will be indicated. If treatment is needed, however, it may include:

Cortisone: Injected into the hemangioma or given orally by mouth. If given orally for prolonged periods has side effects including increased risk of systemic infection, high blood pressure, diabetes, increased appetite, stomach irritation, growth suppression, etc.

Pulsed Dye Laser Therapy: This therapy treats the superficial blood vessels best. If this treatment is recommended it is usually reserved for the superficial component of hemangioma, characterized by a flat, red lesion. It is usually administered in a series of laser treatments spaced 2-4 weeks apart.

Antibiotics: If the hemangioma is infected and open it may be treated with a short course of antibiotics and daily wound cleansing.

Alpha Interferon: This therapy is limited to the most severe and potentially life threatening hemangiomas. It involves administering systemic medication via daily shots, usually into the leg, for several months. It is usually given to the baby by the parents under physician direction and supervision. This therapy has serious potential side effects including neurologic effects, blood abnormalities and others.

Surgical removal: In rare instances, hemangiomas may be surgically removed especially if they are not likely to resolve spontaneously or lead to significant tissue distortion and deformation.

PROGNOSIS:
Hemangiomas go through three stages of development and decay:

1.In the proliferation stage, a hemangioma grows very quickly. This stage can last up to twelve months.

2.In the rest stage, there is very little change in a hemangioma’s appearance. This usually lasts until the infant is one to two years old.

3.In the involution phase, a hemangioma finally begins to diminish in size. Fifty percent of lesions will have disappeared by age five with the vast majority gone by puberty.

DISCLAIMER : This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose

RESOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemangioma
http://childrensspecialists.com/body.cfm?id=498
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/hemangioma.html

Enhanced by Zemanta
css.php