Cavernous haemangiomas are usually not present at birth but appear in the first two weeks of life. Lesions are usually on the face, neck or trunk and are well-circumscribed and lobulated.
The naevus often continues to grow during the first year of life, but after this initial growth period, slow involution occurs. In a majority of cases the lesion regresses completely by 4 or 5 years of age.
Treatment may however be indicated if there is inhibition normal development - for example impairing normal binocular visual development by obstructing the vision from one eye. It may involve systemic or local steroids, sclerosants, interferon, or laser treatment.
Sometimes a naevus shows features of a capillary, as well as a cavernous, haemangioma.
Some cavernous haemangiomata be associated with thrombocytopaenia, in Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.
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