Background
Cherry hemangiomas are the most common cutaneous vascular proliferations. They are often widespread and appear as tiny cherry red papules or macules.
Pathophysiology
Involvement of cherry hemangiomas is limited to the skin. These benign lesions are formed by a proliferation of dilated venules.
Epidemiology
Frequency
United States
Frequency of cherry hemangiomas increases with age in both sexes and all races.
International
The incidence of cherry angiomas is uniform across all races, but individual lesions are most noticeable in pale-skinned individuals.
Mortality/Morbidity
Lesions are benign and usually do not undergo spontaneous involution. Patients may demonstrate considerable concern regarding the cosmetic appearance of the lesions.
Race
Cherry hemangiomas are found in individuals of all races and ethnic backgrounds.
Sex
No distinction can be made on the basis of sex.
Age
Cherry hemangiomas occur more frequently with increasing age. In the past, the lesions often were referred to as senile angiomas.
Pembroke AC, Grice K, Levantine AV, Warin AP. Eruptive angiomata in malignant disease. Clin Exp Dermatol. Jun 1978;3(2):147-56. [Medline].
Dawn G, Gupta G. Comparison of potassium titanyl phosphate vascular laser and hyfrecator in the treatment of vascular spiders and cherry angiomas. Clin Exp Dermatol. Nov 2003;28(6):581-3. [Medline].
Gupta G, Bilsland D. A prospective study of the impact of laser treatment on vascular lesions. Br J Dermatol. Aug 2000;143(2):356-9. [Medline].
Bernstein EF. The pulsed-dye laser for treatment of cutaneous conditions. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. Oct 2009;144(5):557-72. [Medline].
Ma HJ, Zhao G, Shi F, Wang YX. Eruptive cherry angiomas associated with vitiligo: provoked by topical nitrogen mustard?. J Dermatol. Dec 2006;33(12):877-9. [Medline].
Calonje E, Wilson-Jones E. Vascular tumors: tumors and tumor-like conditions of blood vessels and lymphatics. In: Elder D, Elenitsas R, Jaworsky C, Johnson B Jr, eds. Lever's Histopathology of the Skin. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven; 1997:902.
Hagiwara K, Khaskhely NM, Uezato H, Nonaka S. Mast cell "densities" in vascular proliferations: a preliminary study of pyogenic granuloma, portwine stain, cavernous hemangioma, cherry angioma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and malignant hemangioendothelioma. J Dermatol. Sep 1999;26(9):577-86. [Medline].
Mazereeuw-Hautier J, Cambon L, Bonafe JL. [Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis in an adult renal transplant recipient]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. Jan 2001;128(1):55-6. [Medline].
Odom RB, James WD, Berger TB. Dermal and subcutaneous tumors: cherry angiomas. In: Andrew's Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 2000. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:751.
Sanchez JL, Ackerman AB. Vascular proliferations of skin and subcutaneous tissue. In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. Vol 1. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1993:1219-20.
Print
