National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Fibro-adipose vascular anomaly



Other Names:
FAVA; Fibro adipose vascular anomaly
Categories:

A fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) is a rare mass that develops within a muscle. It is made up of abnormal blood vessels and tough, fibrous, fatty tissue. It most often involves a single limb, which may appear slightly enlarged. Common signs and symptoms include pain, loss of mobility, and visible veins. Diagnosis is often delayed till late childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. In some cases, the anomaly is due to changes in the PIK3CA gene. In other cases the cause is not known. FAVA is not inherited. Treatment may involve surgery or freezing (cryoablation), and physical therapy. If surgery or cryoablation cannot be done, the medication, Sirolimus, may be another treatment option.[1]
Last updated: 9/14/2016

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • Project FAVA offers tips for finding medical specialist for fibro-adipose vascular anomaly on their Web site.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

General Information

  • The Boston Children's Hospital has developed information on fibro-adipose vascular anomaly for parents of children with this rare condition.

Selected Full-Text Journal Articles


Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Alomari A. Fibro-Adipose Vascular Anomaly (FAVA) in Children. Boston Children's Hospital. 2015; http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/fibro-adipose-vascular-anomaly. Accessed 9/14/2016.