# Haemangioma or Lymphangioma

- Category: chronic
- Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page)
- Sources: Hemangioma - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (NBK538232) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538232/ · ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class SD28 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
- Verified date: 2026-08

## Verified against

- No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
- Haemangioma or Lymphangioma - disease-level clinical article (haemangioma-or-lymphangioma-full.txt)

## Treatment metadata

- No drug therapy in primary care (Referral & Advice)

## Complete treatment card

```text
HAEMANGIOMA OR LYMPHANGIOMA
Sources: Hemangioma - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (NBK538232) -
         https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538232/ · ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification
         of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class SD28 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose -
         referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
Review status: REVIEWED against No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care,
               Haemangioma or Lymphangioma - disease-level clinical article
               (haemangioma-or-lymphangioma-full.txt)  (2026-08)

IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination
  SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (2)
    - Superficial lymphangioma (lymphangioma circumscriptum) can cause itching, pain, burning,
      weeping fluid, infection, or cosmetic concern  [itching]
    - Cavernous lymphangioma typically shows up in infancy as a painless, poorly defined swelling
      under normal-looking skin
  SIGNS - what you find (5)
    - Lymphangioma circumscriptum appears as clustered, translucent or blood-tinged vesicle-like
      bumps resembling frog spawn  [blisters · vesicles]
    - In the genital area, the surface can look warty and be mistaken for genital warts  [genital
      warts]
    - Cavernous lymphangioma is often mistaken clinically for a cyst or a lipoma  [cyst]
    - Cystic hygroma is a soft swelling of variable size on the neck, armpit, or groin that tends to
      enlarge unless surgically removed
    - A hygroma at the back of the neck can point to Turner syndrome, hydrops fetalis, or a similar
      congenital condition  [hydrops fetalis]
  TESTS (3)
    - Diagnosis is usually made clinically; dermoscopy or biopsy can confirm it, and imaging shows
      depth and extent
    - Dermoscopy shows either yellow lacunae with pale borders, or yellow-pink lacunae mixed with
      dark-red or bluish ones when blood is present
    - Cystic hygromas can be seen before birth on transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound, and MRI
      helps map how far a lesion extends
  IF NOT THIS - what else fits (4)
    - Cutaneous melanoma is on the differential for a pigmented or vascular-looking lesion
    - Herpes zoster and lymphangiectasia are also on the differential
    - Stewart-Treves syndrome is on the differential
    - Cutaneous lipomas are also on the differential
  Source  StatPearls "Lymphangioma" - disease-level clinical article
  Status  traced to the source above

1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (REFERRAL & ADVICE)    [1st line]
   Adult    Benign vascular or lymphatic malformations, often congenital, presenting as a raised
            birthmark that blanches on pressure; most infantile haemangiomas involute on their own,
            but larger or problematic lesions near the eye, airway, or with ulceration are treated
            with oral propranolol under specialist supervision, so the GP's role is monitoring and
            timely referral. - Refer, with advice
   Peds     Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is
            implied.
   Source   No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care
   Why      Benign vascular or lymphatic malformations, often congenital, presenting as a raised
            birthmark that blanches on pressure; most infantile haemangiomas involute on their own,
            but larger or problematic lesions near the eye, airway, or with ulceration are treated
            with oral propranolol under specialist supervision, so the GP's role is monitoring and
            timely referral.
   Caution  No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and
            referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to.
            RED FLAG - Cellulitis and lymphatic fluid leakage are common complications of
            lymphangioma circumscriptum.
            RED FLAG - Large cystic hygromas of the neck can cause dysphagia and respiratory
            problems.
            RED FLAG - A haemangioma near the eye, airway, or genitalia (risk of function-
            threatening growth), ulceration or bleeding of the lesion, or rapid growth in early
            infancy needing specialist review before it enlarges further.

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.
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