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EnglishWhat Types of Vascular Birthmarks and Related Conditions Does VBF Cover?
Updated
The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (VBF) at birthmark.org organizes its information around nine specific diagnoses: Hemangioma, Port Wine Stain, Venous Malformation, Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita (CMTC), Lymphatic Malformation (Lymphangiomas), Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS), and PHACE Syndrome. Each has its own page on the site, so you can start with the name you were given and read a plain-language overview before deciding what to do next.
The nine conditions VBF covers
| Condition | What the name refers to |
|---|---|
| Hemangioma | A vascular birthmark type listed among VBF's core diagnosis pages |
| Port Wine Stain | A vascular birthmark type listed among VBF's core diagnosis pages |
| Venous Malformation | A malformation involving veins |
| Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) | A malformation involving arteries and veins |
| Sturge-Weber Syndrome | A syndrome VBF groups with vascular birthmarks |
| Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita (CMTC) | A condition listed under its full name and abbreviation |
| Lymphatic Malformation (Lymphangiomas) | A malformation involving the lymphatic system |
| Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS) | A syndrome VBF groups with vascular birthmarks |
| PHACE Syndrome | A syndrome VBF groups with vascular birthmarks |
The list mixes three kinds of things: single birthmark types (such as hemangioma or port wine stain), malformations named by the vessels involved (venous, arteriovenous, lymphatic), and syndromes that can include a vascular birthmark along with other findings (Sturge-Weber, KTS, PHACE). That distinction matters when you are reading, because a syndrome page will cover more than the mark itself.
How to use the list if you are trying to identify something
VBF's own framing is that it networks families affected by a vascular birthmark, anomaly, or related syndrome to appropriate medical professionals for evaluation and/or treatment. The site is a starting point for that connection, not a diagnostic tool.
A practical sequence:
- Find the term that matches what you were told, or the closest match among the nine names above.
- Read that condition's page for its basic features.
- Note the questions the page raises for your situation.
- Use VBF's Find A Doctor and Ask the VBF Experts routes to get a professional opinion.
If nothing on the list matches the wording you have, that is itself useful information to bring to a clinician rather than a reason to force a fit.
Where the rest of the site fits
Beyond the diagnosis pages, VBF's navigation points to:
- Medical resources — treatment options, information for parents, insurance claims and appeals, and guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (for hemangiomas) and the American Academy of Dermatology (guidelines of care).
- Treatment access — Find A Doctor, Ask the VBF Expert, and a directory of international laser treatment centers.
- Conferences and clinics — national and international clinics and missions, including a 2026 Super Clinic in NYC listed as October 9–10, 2026, with registration noted as closed as of 8/17/26.
- Family resources — new parent packages, fact sheets, Facebook Live videos, support groups, and travel assistance for KTS.
- Community and advocacy — support groups, a parent advocacy network, a legislative initiative, and an adults living with vascular birthmarks network.
The organization describes itself as an international charitable organization with over 200,000 people networked into treatment, founded and led by Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon.
What to keep in mind
The nine names above are the categories VBF chose to publish, not a complete taxonomy of every vascular anomaly. Two conditions can look similar in a photo and have different names, and some of the syndromes on the list are diagnosed by findings beyond the birthmark. Use the pages to prepare for an evaluation, and treat any specific treatment or insurance question as something to confirm with the clinician or the relevant program.