What is a vascular malformation and why is it different from a hemangioma?
A vascular malformation is abnormal development of small veins (called a venous malformation) or small arteries and veins (called an arterio-venous malformation). Unlike a hemangioma, the vascular malformation is often noticeably present at birth and will continue to grow along with the person through childhood and as an adult. Port-wine stain is an example of a venous malformation.
