Venous malformations of the head and neck: A retrospective review of 82 cases

Abstract

Background Venous malformations (VMs) are a common type of vascular malformation. However, their causes and management remain unclear, and few studies specific to VMs of the head and neck have been reported. This study describes our experiences with VMs of the head and neck. Methods This retrospective study included 82 patients who underwent treatment for head and neck VMs, among 222 who visited our vascular anomalies center. Medical records between 2003 and 2016 were reviewed to identify common features in the diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis of suspected head and neck VMs was based on the results of imaging studies or biopsies, and the VMs were analyzed based on magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and Doppler sonography findings. Results VMs were slightly more common in female patients (59.8%), and 45.1% of patients developed initial symptoms at the age of 10 or younger. Lesions were slightly more common on the right side (47.3%). The main sites involved were the cheek (27.7%) and lip area (25.5%). The muscle layer was commonly involved, in 98.7% of cases. Small lesions less than 5 cm in diameter accounted for 60.8% of cases, and well-defined types were slightly more prevalent at 55.4%. Improvement was observed in 77.1% of treated patients. Conclusions Early and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment according to individual symptoms are important for successful treatment of VMs. If treatment is delayed, the lesions can worsen, or recurrence becomes more likely. Therefore, VMs require a multidisciplinary approach for early and accurate diagnosis.

Intramuscular hemangioma in the zygomaticus minor muscle: a case report and literature review

“…Hemangiomas and vascular malformations are benign neoplasms of blood vessels [ 1 , 4 ]. IMH is a special type of hemangioma involving the skeletal muscle that comprises only 0.8% of all hemangiomas [ 2 ].…”

“…Salzman et al [ 8 ] introduced a US-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) protocol that was successfully performed for the preoperative diagnosis of IMHs, however; due to bleeding risk, it is controversial whether FNAB or CNB should be done for accurate diagnosis [ 8 ]. MRI seems to be a better imaging modality to evaluate IMH than computed tomography [ 4 ]. IMH presents a well-demarcated, bright lesion that has higher signal intensity in T2-weighted images because of the stagnant blood in the vessels [ 2 ].…”

Surgical approach for venous malformation in the head and neck

“…VMs is a challenging condition to treat clinically and is associated with high morbidity and frequent recurrence after treatment; therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is crucial for the treatment of VMs [7]. As VMs generally occur in superficial areas, it is easily detected and diagnosed.…”

Use of foam form of 3% Ethoxysclerol in the venous malformations treatment of the maxillofacial region ‎

“…Diagnosis and treatment of vascular malformations (VASM) of the maxillofacial region (MFR) is still an urgent problem. According to many authors, the detection rate of VASM localized in the MFR reaches 60-80%, while patients with venous malformations (VM) account for about 40% of the total number of patients with VASM localized in the head and neck region [1,2]. Ultrasound examination (US), being non-invasive, safe, easily accessible, and without contraindications, the method is currently one of the standard methods for the diagnosis of vascular pathology [3].…”