VASCULAR ANOMALIES

What are the differences

Survival

5-year survival rates above 75% are seen in many industrialized countries. Survival tended to be lower in less affluent countries of Eastern Europe, and lower still in developing countries.

Note! The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Of course, many people live much longer than 5 years (and many are cured).

The prognosis for many childhood cancers has improved dramatically over past decades. Although progress in the treatment of some tumor types, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and Wilms' tumor, has been outstanding, progress in the treatment of others, such as metastatic neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, has been modest. Therefore there is still a need for significant improvement in the treatment of childhood cancer.

between cancers in adults and children?

§ The types of cancers that develop in children are often different from those that develop in adults.

§ Childhood cancers are often the result of DNA changes in cells that take place very early in life, sometimes even before birth. Unlike many cancers in adults, childhood cancers are not strongly linked to lifestyle or environmental risk factors.

§ There are exceptions, but childhood cancers tend to respond better to treatments such as chemotherapy. Children’s bodies also tend to tolerate chemotherapy better than adults’ bodies do.

§ But cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can have some long-term side effects, so children will need careful attention for the rest of their lives.

Vascular anomalies are disorders of the endothelium that usually present during childhood. These lesions affect all parts of the vasculature: capillaries, veins, arteries, or lymphatics. Although nearly alwaysbenign, vascular anomalies may involve any location and are often locally destructive. In addition to severe disfigurement, local complications include obstruction, bleeding, bone loss, and pain. Systemic sequelae can include thrombocytopenia, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure, and even death.

A biologic classification of vascular anomalies based on physical findings, natural history, and cellular characteristics has clarified the differences between the different types of vascular anomalies. In particular, vascular anomalies are broadly divided into two groups:

· Tumors - are characterized by endothelial cell proliferation (endothelial hyperplasia).

· Malformations - arise due to vascular dysmorphogenesis and have normal endothelial cell turnover.

What is the difference between a vascular tumor and a vascular malformation? - Vascular tumors can regress or persist depending on their type. Vascular malformations never regress, they persist throughout life. Most of them have commensurate growth during childhood, and some worsen over time if not treated.