The Hemangioma and Vascular Birthmarks Clinic at OHSU specializes in treatment of infants, children and adults with vascular lesions and birthmarks. This is a clinic formed to address the needs of patients with these complex lesions, and includes doctors and nurses from a variety of specialties, such as Dermatology (skin) and Radiology. The clinic is under the direction of Carol MacArthur, MD, Director (Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery), Alfons Krol, MD, (Director, Pediatric Dermatology), and Sabra Lofgren, MD (Pediatric Dermatology). Other specialists on our panel include Gary Nesbit, MD, John Kaufman, MD, and Frederick Keller, MD from the Department of Interventional Radiology. Other specialists are available by referral from the departments of Otolaryngology (Facial Plastic Surgery), Ophthalmology (Eye), Hematology/Oncology (Blood/Cancer), Neurosurgery (Brain and Spine), Pediatrics, Vascular Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, and Orthopedic (bones) Surgery.
Before the Surgery
After Surgery
One Year After the Surgery
Vascular birthmarks (such as hemangiomas, vascular malformations, and lymphatic malformations) can be difficult to diagnose properly if one is not familiar with these lesions. Up to 50-60% of these lesions are diagnosed incorrectly, or are mistreated. While the uncomplicated hemangioma may be watched expectantly until it begins to involute (curve or turn inward), early intervention is often necessary and very beneficial for the more aggressive and complex vascular lesions. Our clinic provides the expertise to properly diagnose and recommend and provide treatment and/or intervention for these lesions. Patients with these lesions often have to try to coordinate care between the many specialists they see. By seeing several specialists in one visit to our clinic, your care can be coordinated and improved. Our clinic, in association with Doernbecher Children's Hospital and OHSU, offers the latest advances in diagnostic, medical, laser, and surgical technology including:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Computer Tomographic (CT) imaging, including Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), and Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA)
- Angiography and embolization with particulate and liquid embolic agents
Sclerotherapy (ethanol, doxycycline, and others) - Local and systemic steroid therapy
- Medical treatments, such as Propranolol for hemangiomas
- Surface and intralesional laser therapy, using pulsed dye, KTP, Nd:YAG, and carbon dioxide lasers
- Multi-disciplinary surgical resection
- Hemangiomas
- Vascular malformations (venous malformations, arterio-venous malformations/AVM's, port-wine stains)
- Lymphatic malformations (sometimes called cystic hygromas)
- Hemangio-endotheliomas
- Kassabach-Merritt syndrome
- Klippel-Trenaumay Syndrome
- Other syndromes involving vascular anomalies
- Laser ablation
- Steroid injections
- Injection of sclerosing agents
- Surgical excision and reconstructive surgery
- Angiographic and percutaneous embolization
- Pulsed dye lasers
- CO2 lasers
- Nd/YAG lasers
- KTP lasers
If you are interested in making an appointment with the OHSU Pediatric Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Department, please call 503 494-5350. Our doctors and nurse practitioner see patients in the Physician's Pavilion and Doernbecher Children's Hospital in the main OHSU campus, and also at the Doernbecher Children's Hospital Westside Clinic.
