Congenital hemangiomas are non-cancer tumors made up of thickened skin and many thin-walled blood vessels. These blood vessels often have a high rate of blood flowing through them.
We do not know what causes congenital hemangiomas. We do know they are:
- not related to drugs or medications taken during pregnancy
- not related to being exposed to things in the environment during pregnancy
Types of Congenital Hemangiomas
- rapidly involuting congenital hemangiomas (RICH)
- rapidly shrink during the first year of life, and may be completely gone by 18 months old
- noninvoluting congenital hemangiomas (NICH)
- fully developed at birth, and do not shrink.