OHSU

OHSU Hemangioma and Vascular Birthmarks Clinic

HVBC Group Photo

Team Members

Pictured from left: Kim Leeth, scheduler HVBC; Monica Deshpande, NP Pediatric Otolaryngology; Dr. Jennifer Murphy, Plastic Surgery; Dr. Carol MacArthur, Pediatric Otolaryngology; Dr.  John Kaufman, Interventional Radiology; Dr. Julianne Mann, Pediatric Dermatology; Dr. Alfons Krol, Pediatric Otolaryngology; Dr. Michael Recht, Hematology/Oncology, (not pictured: Dr. Gary Nesbit, Neuro-Interventional Radiology; Dr. Sabra Leitenberger, Pediatric Dermatology; Dr. Fred Keller, Interventional Radiology)

About Our Services

The Hemangioma and Vascular Birthmarks Clinic at OHSU specializes in treatment of infants, children and adults with vascular lesions and birthmarks. This is a clinic formed to address the needs of patients with these complex lesions, and includes doctors and nurses from a variety of specialties, such as Dermatology (skin) and Radiology. The clinic is under the direction of Carol MacArthur, MD, Director (Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery), Alfons Krol, MD, (Director, Pediatric Dermatology), and Sabra Lofgren, MD (Pediatric Dermatology). Other specialists on our panel include Gary Nesbit, MD, John Kaufman, MD, and Frederick Keller, MD from the Department of Interventional Radiology. Other specialists are available by referral from the departments of Otolaryngology (Facial Plastic Surgery), Ophthalmology (Eye), Hematology/Oncology (Blood/Cancer), Neurosurgery (Brain and Spine), Pediatrics, Vascular Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, and Orthopedic (bones) Surgery.

Vascular birthmarks (such as hemangiomas, vascular malformations, and lymphatic malformations) can be difficult to diagnose properly if one is not familiar with these lesions. Up to 50-60% of these lesions are diagnosed incorrectly, or are mistreated. While the uncomplicated hemangioma may be watched expectantly until it begins to involute (curve or turn inward), early intervention is often necessary and very beneficial for the more aggressive and complex vascular lesions. Our clinic provides the expertise to properly diagnose and recommend and provide treatment and/or intervention for these lesions. Patients with these lesions often have to try to coordinate care between the many specialists they see. By seeing several specialists in one visit to our clinic, your care can be coordinated and improved. Our clinic, in association with Doernbecher Children's Hospital and OHSU, offers the latest advances in diagnostic, medical, laser, and surgical technology including:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Computer Tomographic (CT) imaging, including Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), and Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA)
  • Angiography and embolization with particulate and liquid embolic agents
  • Sclerotherapy (ethanol, doxycycline, and others)
  • Local and systemic steroid therapy
  • Medical treatments, such as Propranolol for hemangiomas
  • Surface and intralesional laser therapy, using pulsed dye, KTP, Nd:YAG, and carbon dioxide lasers
  • Multi-disciplinary surgical resection

We diagnose and treat:

  • Hemangiomas
  • Vascular malformations (venous malformations, arterio-venous malformations/AVM's, port-wine stains)
  • Lymphatic malformations (sometimes called cystic hygromas)
  • Hemangio-endotheliomas
  • Kassabach-Merritt syndrome
  • Klippel-Trenaumay Syndrome
  • Other syndromes involving vascular anomalies

Some of Our Procedures:

  • Laser ablation
  • Steroid injections
  • Injection of sclerosing agents
  • Surgical excision and reconstructive surgery
  • Angiographic and percutaneous embolization

Some of the Specialized Equipment We Use:

  • Pulsed dye lasers
  • CO2 lasers
  • Nd/YAG lasers
  • KTP lasers

How to Make an Appointment

If you are interested in making an appointment with the OHSU Hemangioma and Vascular Birthmarks Clinic, please call 503 494-5350. Our doctors and nurse practitioner see patients in the Physician's Pavilion and Doernbecher Children's Hospital in the main OHSU campus.

Appointments

Please call 503 494-5350 for an appointment with our providers at any of our locations.

Vascular Birthmark Blog

Read more about what the Hemangioma & Vascular Birthmark Clinic (HVBC) team is doing and special topics related to vascular birthmarks on thier blog here

Multi-disciplinary Care

Since our clinic includes doctors from multiple specialties (Dermatology, Radiology, Cancer, etc. ), our patients get great results. As you can see from the pictures below, the removal of an hemangioma was effective and leaves very little scarring or marks.

Before the Surgery
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After the Surgery
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One Year After the Surgery
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