HVLM Clinic: Expert Vascular Malformation Treatment

Innovative Hematology’s Hemangioma, Vascular and Lymphatic Malformations (HVLM) clinic is committed to providing expert care for infants, children, teens, and adults with hemangiomas and congenital vascular/lymphatic anomalies.

• As a center of excellence in the treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders, Innovative Hematology offers a high level of coordinated care for patients with vascular anomalies
• Care includes medical therapies as well as coordination between required specialties: ENT, plastic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, radiology, and surgery
• Seamless pediatric transition to adult care
• Patients have access to Innovative Hematology’s onsite expert multidisciplinary team members: physical therapist, genetic counselor, dietitian, dental hygienist, social worker, psychologist, and academic/career counselor
• Innovative Hematology’s care team collaborates with national experts, and patient participation in research studies may be available
• Primary care providers receive prompt communication about their patients

Conditions Treated

Lymphatic or blood vessels that have not developed normally often present at birth or shortly thereafter as discolored skin lesions or swellings. They are commonly known as “birth marks” or “hemangiomas.” Subtypes of these conditions fall under two major groups:

Vascular Tumors

(Common ones known as):

• Strawberry Hemangioma
• Infantile Hemangioma
• Hemangiomas of Infancy

Less common ones known as:

• Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma
• Tufted Hemangioma
• Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma

Vascular Malformations

• Of capillaries: Port wine stain, stork’s patch, angel’s kiss, salmon patch/nevus flammeus
• Of veins: Venous malformation
• Of arteries: AVMs, AV fistulas
• Of lymphatics: Lymphangioma, cystic hygroma
• Of a combination of blood vessels
• Vascular and lymphatic malformations can also be part of syndromes such as Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome, Parks-Weber Syndrome, PROTEUS Syndrome, PHACE Syndrome, CLOVES Syndrome, and Sturge-Weber Syndrome

Treatments Offered

• Propranolol for infantile hemangiomas
• Sirolimus (Rapamune) for complex venous and lymphatic malformations
• Anticoagulation to prevent clotting in at-risk vascular lesions
• Physical therapy consultation for custom-made compression garments for venous and lymphatic anomalies, information on local resources, and guidance with lesions involving limbs and impaired mobility
• Care coordination with other specialists for:
  • Sclerosing injections for venous and lymphatic malformations performed by interventional radiology.
  • Pulsed dye laser and intralesional steroids performed by dermatology.
  • Surgical removal of lesions by pediatric and plastic surgery
  • Laser treatment for airway and oral hemangiomas performed by ear/nose/throat surgeons
  • Debulking surgery for various lesions of limb overgrowth syndromes performed by orthopedic specialists

Some vascular lesions may become infected, cause heart failure, be located in the brain, or are associated with genetic syndromes; in these cases infectious disease, cardiology, neurology, and genetic specialists are available to treat you or your child.