Vascular anomalies

Abstract

In 1995, Dr Martin Mihm, already a renowned dermatopathologist in melanoma, met a desperate mother whose daughter was diagnosed with a hemangioma, the most common benign vascular tumor of infancy. At that time, the literature on the subject was sparse, only a handful of treatment centers existed, and virtually no pathologists took a focused interest in the subject. Dr Mihm's interest in the area grew not only from meeting the mother but also from his personal experiences with the condition. Dr Mihm himself had been diagnosed with hemangioma as an infant, and his godson also suffered from a recurrent problematic vascular malformation. This was the beginning of a whole new world of tumor research for the brilliant dermatologist and pathologist.

At the time, research in hemangiomas was limited: Many physicians were confused about the biological difference between hemangiomas and malformations, and as a result, many affected individuals were inaccurately diagnosed and improperly treated. Although improvements in the treatment of vascular tumors had begun 30 years before, the histopathology remained unchanged. Dr Mihm pioneered the histopathology of vascular anomalies, particularly the understanding of the pathology of these tumors. His self-funded research laid the groundwork for developing an accurate, foolproof diagnosis for hemangiomas. Dr Mihm and his collaborators established that hemangiomas stain positive for glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT1).1 Physicians are now able to differentiate hemangiomas accurately from other vascular tumors and thus provide the appropriate treatment.

Dr Mihm's mission focuses on making treatment equally available for all people. He cofounded over a half dozen vascular birthmarks and malformations treatment centers in Albany, Boston, Greece, Italy, Spain and recently one in Vietnam. His personal mission is to bring treatment and the understanding of these tumors to people all over the world. His future plans include multidisciplinary treatment centers in Asia, Canada and Puerto Rico.