Vascular Anomalies Center

Our Team Includes Specialists In:

Clinical Directors

Ibrahim Khansa

Ibrahim Khansa, MD, is a surgeon within the Department Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University. He is the director of the Vascular Anomalies Center and a member of the Center for Complex Craniofacial Disorders and the Cleft Lip and Palate Team.

Anna P. Lillis

Anna Lillis, MD, PhD, is a pediatric interventional radiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She earned her medical degree and PhD in Pathology from Duke University in 2008. She completed Radiology Residency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Pediatric Radiology Fellowship and advanced Pediatric Interventional Radiology training at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Services We Offer

• Comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and management of hemangiomas and other vascular tumors, including pharmacologic treatment (timolol, propranolol, steroids), surgical treatment, laser therapy, surgical or image-guided biopsy and embolization
• Multidisciplinary approach to complex vascular anomalies, including slow flow (lymphatic malformations and venous malformations), high flow (arteriovenous fistulae and arteriovenous malformations), and combined malformations and overgrowth syndromes (such as Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, CLOVES, Capillary Malformation with Overgrowth and others)
  • Our multidisciplinary team includes providers from Plastic Surgery, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Dermatology, Hematology/Oncology, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Clinical Genetics, Psychology, Social Work and The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine
  • Patients are discussed at our biweekly multidisciplinary conference which feature clinical case review and imaging discussion. Recommendations are made for further testing, if needed, including additional imaging, laboratory testing, and/or genetic screening. Treatment recommendations are provided including minimally-invasive image-guided sclerotherapy, embolization, biopsy with the possibility of genomic testing, targeted medical therapy, laser therapy and/or surgical resection or debulking.
  • Complex patients may be seen by multiple specialists co-located at one visit during our monthly multidisciplinary clinic
• State-of-the-art imaging technology including ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluoroscopic and MR lymphangiography to aid in diagnosis of vascular tumors and malformations and guide management
• Minimally-invasive, image-guide therapy including sclerotherapy and embolization by our team of expert Interventional Radiologists
• Targeted medical therapy that includes use of sirolimus (rapamycin), and monitoring for management of hemangiomas, vascular tumors and complex malformations by Dermatology and Hematology/Oncology teams
• Management and treatment of conditions affecting the nose, mouth and airway by our Otolaryngology (ENT) team
• Clinical genetic and genomic analysis for identification of causal genes leading to possible treatment with available and developing targeted medical therapies  
• Laser therapy for certain malformations and birthmarks with skin involvement including Port Wine birthmarks and other capillary malformations, superficial venous malformations, etc.
• Management of orthopedic complications of vascular anomalies including leg-length discrepancy and joint involvement
• Surgical biopsy, resection or partial resection/debulking (partial removal of involved or overgrown tissue) of various tumors and malformations by our surgical specialists in Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology and Orthopedic Surgery.
• Psychological evaluation and psychosocial support for our patients and families where needed by our dedicated Psychology and Social Work providers.
• Supportive care services that include physical therapy, occupational therapy and fitting for compression garments.
• Cutting edge research into advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for vascular anomalies

Conditions We Treat

Hemangiomas

This Helping Hand™ explains different types of hemangiomas and how they're benign (noncancerous). 

Hemangioma and Vascular Malformations

The treatment of a hemangioma is usually observation. Some hemangiomas can cause problems if they bleed or press on important nearby structures, such as the eye or the upper airway. Venous malformations, lymphatic malformations and arteriovenous malformations require a multidisciplinary approach.

Lymphatic Disorders

Lymphatic disorders arise when the lymphatic system is disrupted either through congenital malformation, traumatic injury from a medical procedure, or a change in the lymphatic-circulatory balance. Lymphatic disorders may result in losses in nutritional, immune, electrolyte and clotting factors.

Lymphatic Malformation

A lymphatic malformation is the result of abnormal formation and development during fetal development of the otherwise normal lymphatic vessels in the body. This is usually in one area of the body: neck, chest, abdomen and extremities.

Our Clinics 

Resources for Families and Physicians

Managing Lymphatic Flow Disorders: Expanding Care Through Collaboration

Lymphatic disorders in children are rare conditions that arise when this system is disrupted by either abnormal development, injury, or as a result of some types of cardiac disease. These conditions can result in significant losses in important proteins, electrolytes and other nutritional elements.

Hemangiomas: What Are They and How Are They Treated?

A hemangioma is a benign tumor of blood vessels. It usually appears around 2-4 weeks of age as a small red-pink patch. It then grows rapidly for 5-6 months and continues to grow slowly until 1 year of age.

International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA)

ISSVA workshops, held all over the world, gather hundreds of international specialists of various medical disciplines involved in the treatment of patients afflicted with vascular anomalies.

Vascular Birthmarks Foundation

The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation is an international charitable organization that networks those affected by a vascular birthmark, anomaly, tumor or syndrome to the appropriate medical professionals for evaluation and treatment.

What Pediatricians Need to Know About Lymphedema in Pediatrics

Lymphedema is chronic, progressive swelling caused by maldevelopment or disruption of the lymphatic system. Min-Jeong Cho, MD, a microsurgeon and assistant professor at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, answers some common questions to help pediatricians identify and treat patients with lymphedema.