When facing a diagnosis of a lymphatic malformation (LM) or complex lymphatic anomaly (CLA), families often find themselves navigating a confusing and overwhelming medical landscape. These rare conditions affect multiple parts of the body and require a range of expertise for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. That’s why specialized vascular anomaly centers are so important.
At these centers, care is provided by multidisciplinary teams—groups of medical professionals from different specialties who work together to address the many challenges these conditions present. A team might include:
- Pediatricians and internists to manage overall health.
- Surgeons and interventional radiologists to evaluate and perform procedures such as sclerotherapy.
- Oncologists and hematologists to help guide medical therapies.
- Geneticists to identify genes driving the condition.
- Pulmonologists, cardiologists, and orthopedists to monitor how anomalies affect specific body systems.
- Nurses, therapists, and social workers to support daily care and improve quality of life.
This collaborative approach ensures that patients are not left seeking answers from one specialist at a time. Instead, the team meets, shares knowledge, and develops a coordinated treatment plan tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
For patients and families, this means:
- Comprehensive care that looks at the whole picture—not just one symptom.
- Access to expertise from specialists who understand rare vascular anomalies.
- Improved quality of life, as treatments are guided by a broad team perspective.
Multidisciplinary care is one of the reasons why vascular anomaly centers are leading the way in advancing treatment for both LMs and CLAs. They provide not only medical expertise but also hope—helping families feel supported on every step of their journey.
You can find a list of vascular anomaly centers on our website or contact support@lgdalliance.org for help locating a doctor who specializes in treating lymphatic malformations and complex lymphatic anomalies.
