Vascular anomalies: A pictorial review of nomenclature, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Vascular anomalies, including vascular malformations and tumors, are frequently straightforward to detect; however, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are often challenging. Misdiagnosis of these lesions can lead clinicians in the wrong direction when treating these patients, which can have unfavorable results. This review presents an overview of the classification systems that have been developed for the diagnosis of vascular lesions with a focus on the imaging characteristics. Pictorial examples of each lesion on physical examination, as well as non-invasive and minimally invasive imaging are presented. An overview of the endovascular treatment of these lesions is also given. In some cases, vascular anomalies may be associated with an underlying syndrome and several of the most commonly encountered syndromes are discussed. Understanding of the classification systems, familiarity with the treatment options and knowledge of the associated syndromes are essential for all physicians working with this patient population. The approach to the described entities necessitates an organized multi-disciplinary team effort, with diagnostic imaging playing an increasingly important role in the proper diagnosis and a combined interventional radiologic and surgical treatment method showing promising results.

Diagnostics of Congenital Vascular Malformations of External Localization

“…В арсенале лучевых методов диагностики ВСМ обзорная рентгенография костей и мягких тканей играет второстепенную роль и может косвенно указывать на вовлечение в патологи-ческий процесс костей и суставов, позволяет обнаружить флеболиты, характерные для ВМ [5,8].…”

“…Однако неясных вопросов в диагностике и ле-чении остается еще немало [5]. До настоящего времени в Республике Беларусь не разработан информативный диагностический алгоритм ВСМ, отвечающий требованиям клиницистов.…”

Strategies in Interventional Radiology: Formation of an Interdisciplinary Center of Vascular Anomalies – Chances and Challenges for Effective and Efficient Patient Management

“…Depending on the dominant vascular component, vascular anomalies are categorized as simple arterial, venous, capillary and lymphatic lesions or combined arteriovenous, capillary-venous, and veno-lymphatic lesions. In addition to the vascular composition, the flow characteristics of the vascular anomaly, i. e., fast flow or slow flow, is crucial for treatment [6,7,15]. However, there is no generally accepted definition for the differentiation between slow-flow and fast-flow malformations.…”

“…Expertise in endovascular treatment techniques, including sclerotherapy and embolotherapy, are important components of treatment, considering the fact that almost 90 % of all vascular anomalies can be managed by minimally invasive interventions [15,17,25]. The existing therapeutic spectrum is broad.…”

Bilateral Phacomatosis Pigmentovascularis in a Young Male with Developmental Glaucoma and Varicose Veins

“…7 Venous malformation can also occur in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (capillaro-lymphatico-VM with limb hypertrophy) and Maffucci syndrome (multiple endochondromas associated with multiple hemangioendothelioma and high incidence of malignancy). 8,9 Our patient presented with multiple congenital vascular malformation present at lateral canthus of right eye, left parotid gland, anterolateral aspect of right knee joint, left gluteal region, left knee joint anteriorly, abdominal wall, inferior angle of right scapula, dorsum of left foot, and sole of left foot along with slow-flow VM present in parotid. The screening for the presence of VMs in internal organs could not be done.…”