What best describes a hemangioma?

A hemangioma is best described as a highly vascular lesion characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood vessels. These growths are commonly observed in infants and often present as raised, red or purple lesions on the skin. One key feature of hemangiomas is their ability to blanch upon palpation, meaning that when pressure is applied to the lesion, it temporarily loses its color due to the displacement of blood in the vessels. This property is significant in differentiating hemangiomas from other types of lesions that do not exhibit this response.

The other descriptions don't accurately capture the essence of a hemangioma. For instance, while hyperplastic tissue growth may describe various types of tissue overgrowth, it lacks the specificity related to the vascular characteristics that define a hemangioma. Similarly, benign growths of nerve tissue would refer to conditions like neuromas or similar neurogenic tumors, which are distinct in their cellular composition and origin. Finally, malignant tumors of the jaw involve more aggressive growth patterns and characteristics that are not found in benign hemangiomas. Thus, option B stands out as the accurate descriptor for hemangiomas.