Hemangiomas of striated muscle

Abstract

Hemangioma of striated muscle can no longer be considered as a rare tumor. In all probability occasional cases have been seen in most all of the large clinics. These tumors are frequently neglected by the patients themselves as well as by the surgeon. They are sometimes treated as strains, traumas, arthritis, bursitis or a hematoma and are too often treated expectantly. Careful examination should be made for localized pain and changes in size of the tumor with suitable elevation or lowering of the affected limb. The remote possibility of malignant degeneration must be considered in cases of recurrence following surgery, especially after partial excision of the tumor. Postoperative roentgen therapy may be therapeutically effective in some of these patients. Almost one-half of the patients whose cases were recorded in the literature displayed symptoms before the age of eleven years. It is a disease that usually occurs in the first three decades. The incidence of hemangiomas is approximately equal in males and females. These tumors are predominantly congenital in origin. The lesion presumably arises in the vascular plexus of the muscle or in the perimysium between the muscle fibers. The most commonly accepted classification includes the cavernous, capillary, venous and arterial types. The cavernous variety is by far the most common. The treatment of choice is complete surgical excision. Except in unusual cases in which the hemangioma is extremely large, excision can be accomplished in one stage. The mortality from operative treatment should be low and the incidence of recurrence should be negligible.