Approximately one in ten children are born with a hemangioma. Of these children, about half will require medical intervention of some type. Because hemangiomas are not typically present at birth, they are not listed on birth registries. Most hemangiomas are harmless and require observation at most. Early referral to specialists for potentially at-risk patients can help expedite the appropriate evaluation and management, and in some cases can prevent undue complications such as airway and vision problems.
At the very least, early referral can provide families with reassurance about the diagnosis. Vascular malformations may not be evident at birth; for example, certain types of lymphedema or malformations may become evident in the adolescent years. Many syndromes occur in conjunction with vascular anomalies.