Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Monday, October 13, 2008 dockside asks

Q: Why and how do hemangiomas form within the vertebrae?

Why and how do hemangiomas form within the vertebrae?

In reviewing 5 MRI's over the past 2 1/2 years (4 of my lower back and 1 Thoracic), my family doctor and osteopath noticed that each time I had a new hemangioma at a new level which the radiologist have said do not need further investigation, although they were not comparing the MRI's. Why or how would these hemangiomas develop? Wouldn't it be significant if new ones keep developing? I understand that they do not have any impact on my sciatica or degenerative disk disease and are not serious in themselves but it has bugged me that they form at all without injury. I would appreciate your input. Thank you, dockside

 

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10/13/08 1:08am

Hemangiomas are a kind of a strange phenomenom that occur from time to time in women mostly. They are abnormal accumulations of blood vessels that can occur virtually anywhere in the body. Why they occur is still unclear but some researchers believe estrogen plays a role (hence the increased occurrence in women). I can see that it would be unsettling to have them show up  again and again over time but the good news is that they're usually benign and usually  disappear - this is presumably why none of your three doctors were concerned about them. 

 

Here's some information on liver hemangioma's (http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatic_hemangioma/article.htm)

 

 

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