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Treatment of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma
Source: Childhood Vascular Tumors (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: March 6, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma are best treated by a vascular anomaly specialist. Treatment depends on the symptoms, size and location of the tumor, and the risk of bleeding. Infection, delay in treatment, and surgery can cause bleeding that is life-threatening.
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Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma may be called uncomplicated or complicated.
Uncomplicated tumors are in one area, smaller, cause few or no symptoms, and have a lower risk of bleeding. People with an uncomplicated tumor do not have Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon.
Treatment for uncomplicated kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma may include:
observation for tumors with a low risk of getting worse
surgery to remove the tumor
laser surgery
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topical therapy (steroids or tacrolimus)
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beta-blocker therapy (propranolol)
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targeted therapy (sirolimus) with or without steroid therapy
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Complicated tumors are larger, may cause symptoms, and affect how the body functions. People with a complicated tumor may have Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon, a serious condition that can be life-threatening and requires treatment.
Treatment for complicated kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma may include:
chemotherapy, with or without steroid therapy
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targeted therapy (sirolimus), with or without steroid therapy
surgery, with or without embolization
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Even with treatment, these tumors do not fully go away and can come back. Pain and inflammation may get worse with age, often around puberty. Long-term effects include chronic pain, heart failure, bone problems, and lymphedema (the build up of lymph fluid in tissues).
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Learn more about these treatments in Types of treatment for childhood vascular tumors.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice