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Living with Primary intraosseous venous malformation

A rare genetic condition in which blood vessels in the bones, mostly of the face and skull, expand and cause painless bone enlargement.

Understanding Primary intraosseous venous malformation

Primary intraosseous venous malformation is a rare genetic condition in which blood vessels inside bones, most often facial bones, are greatly enlarged.

The bones, usually the lower jaw, upper jaw, and the bones around the eyes, nose and forehead, enlarge without pain. This often leads to an uneven face and changed facial shape. Midline body differences such as a gap in the belly muscles and a hernia are common. Other reported features include bleeding gums, teeth that come in in the wrong place, bulging eyes and vision loss.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Painless bone enlargement in the face
  • Uneven face (facial asymmetry)
  • Bulging eyes
  • Bleeding gums and teeth in unusual places
  • Gap between belly muscles (diastasis recti)
  • Vision loss

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include bone and joint specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in ELMO2 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Bone and joint specialists (orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Should we have genetic testing for ELMO2, and should siblings be tested?
How will vision and pressure inside the skull be monitored?
Which specialists, such as a craniofacial team, should be involved?

Quick facts

InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesELMO2

Changes in the ELMO2 gene cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, meaning a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

Genetic

Also known as: hemangioma, intraosseous; intraosseous hemangioma; osseous venous malformation; vascular malformation osseous; vascular malformation, primary intraosseous

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Primary intraosseous venous malformationGARD ID 16961 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Primary intraosseous venous malformation.

Explore the Primary intraosseous venous malformation blog

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Explore actively recruiting Primary intraosseous venous malformation studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Primary intraosseous venous malformation with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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