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Nasal angioma
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Angioma of the nose is a benign vascular formation located on the wings of the nose between the skin and cartilaginous tissue. Angioma from blood vessels is called hemangioma, from lymphatic vessels - lymphangioma.
Hemangiomas of various parts of the body are common, accounting for 2-3% of all tumors and about 7% of benign neoplasms in otolaryngology.
[ What causes nasal angioma?
Hemangioma is a dysontogenetic tumor that occurs due to intrauterine disruption of the vascular system. Hemangiomas are often multiple (angiomatosis). Many hemangiomas lack the ability to grow progressively and are not true tumors, but rather a congenital overgrowth of blood vessels in some area or an acquired expansion of pre-existing capillaries (telangiectasia). A distinction is made between capillary, cavernous, and branched hemangiomas. The first is a cluster of collapsed or swollen capillaries, the second is a knot of large blood-filled cavities, and the third is a tangle of dilated and tortuous arterial or venous vessels.
Along with congenital hemangiomas, there is also a distinction made between senile hemangioma, which is multiple small, 1-5 mm in diameter, ruby-red nodules located mainly on the body, but also on the face. Structurally, these formations are varicose-dilated capillaries filled with blood in the connective tissue. The mass appearance of such hemangiomas in a short period of time in old people is called angioma eruptivum.
Symptoms of nasal angioma
Hemangiomas of the external nose do not cause any special functional disorders, except for those cases when they spread to the wings of the nose and their inner surface. In this case, nasal breathing is impaired, the degree of which is determined by the volume of the tumor. Hemangiomas of the nose mainly disrupt the cosmetic function of the nose (according to V.I. Voyachek's definition) and can be the reason for the patient's dissatisfaction with the appearance of his face.
Hemangiomas grow rapidly in early childhood. Capillary and cavernous hemangiomas grow infiltratively, but never metastasize: Bleeding from hemangiomas does not pose a significant danger due to the low pressure in their wide vascular cavities. Only in cavernous and branched hemangiomas of the brain can bleeding cause stroke-like attacks or sudden death.
Diagnosis of nasal angioma
External nasal hemangiomas are easily recognized by their shape, purple-pink or bluish color, and soft consistency. Nasal hemangiomas are often combined with hemangiomas of the corresponding half of the face, and their treatment is usually the responsibility of maxillofacial surgeons and cosmetic surgeons.
What do need to examine?
What tests are needed?
Treatment of nasal angioma
Treatment of nasal angioma depends on the type of hemangioma. Small capillary hemangiomas are destroyed by electrocoagulation or surgical laser or cryosurgery. Large capillary or cavernous hemangiomas are surgically removed or infiltrated with coagulating solutions, such as urethane. Treatment of hemangiomas usually begins in early childhood. Senile nasal hemangiomas are usually not treated.