Hemangiomas: their uses and abuses.

Hemangiomas are vascular tumors, and are distinct from vascular malformations. The term "hemangioma" is frequently misapplied by various medical specialists. This article briefly summarizes the main types of hemangiomas: infantile, rapidly involuting, and noninvoluting types. More complex conditions are also reviewed, such as hemangiomas of the liver and PHACES. The discussion then focuses on common vascular misnomers and proper descriptive terminology for hemangiomas: solitary (small, large, or diffuse) and multifocal. It is concluded that the term "segmental hemangioma" is imprecise, ill-advised, misguided, and should be abandoned. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.