Letters to the Editor

I write in response to the recent Letter to the Editor entitled ‘oral haemangiomas’ (February 2020). I wish to draw attention to the incorrect, and unfortunately very common, use of the term ‘haemangioma’ to describe what is actually usually a vascular malformation. A true haemangioma is a benign vascular tumour (of which there are many types), most commonly an infantile haemangioma − a vascular tumour that develops in the first few months of life, which then rapidly grows before plateauing, usually resolving before the age of 10 years.

Historically, the term ‘haemangioma’ has been used to describe both vascular tumours and vascular malformations, hence the confusion in the literature, texts and amongst clinicians.

When the term ‘oral haemangioma’ is used, what the clinician is referring to is not a tumour, but usually a vascular malformation. I urge readers to view the easy-to-understand International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies Classification¹ for clarification on nomenclature; this guidance explains that all vascular lesions should be referred to as vascular anomalies. Vascular anomalies can then be divided into vascular tumours or vascular malformations. Vascular tumours are subdivided into malignant, locally aggressive and benign – where the reader will find haemangiomas. Vascular malformations may be divided into subcategories, depending on which vessel type is predominant (eg capillary, venous, arterio-venous, etc).