What it means
Although the word ends in -oma, like many tumor names, a hemangioma is not cancer. It is a cluster of small blood vessels mixed with fat, sitting inside the spongy bone of a vertebra. Many adults have one, usually found on a scan done for something else. Typical ones look bright on both T1 and T2 MRI images, thanks to their mix of fat and vessels. On CT, thickened bone strands give a dotted or striped look.
When it matters
A typical hemangioma usually needs no treatment and no follow-up. Some contain little fat and look less typical on MRI, so the radiologist may suggest CT or another scan to confirm what it is. Rarely, a hemangioma grows beyond the bone or presses on the spinal cord or nerves (an aggressive hemangioma), and a specialist would assess it.
Questions to ask your doctor
- Does the hemangioma look typical, or does it need another test to confirm?
- Is it pressing on the spinal canal or any nerves?
- Will I need a follow-up scan for it?
