Vascular anomalies in childhood: Radiologic approach: Review

Vascular anomalies constitute a large number of diseases that may cause difficulties for the diagnosis and treatment of the patients. The wrong diagnosis and wrong therapy choice rates are high even in the good centers. Terminology of the vascular anomalies varies between different centers and this causes confusion. A multidisciplinary approach should be achieved and a common terminology and classification should be used between the disciplines. Vascular anomalies can be subdivided into two groups: vascular tumors and vascular malformations. The majority of vascular tumors is infantile hemangioma. Vascular malformations can be subdivided into three groups: slow-flow, fast-flow and combined malformations. Slow-flow malformations mainly include capillary, venous, and lymphatic malformations; fast-flow malformations include arterio-venous malformation. Combined types are usually associated with Klippel-Trenaunay and Parkes-Weber syndromes. Differentiation of vascular anomalies carries great importance because their managements are different. Physical examination and patient history is essential for the diagnosis; however, radiological modalities play an important role by providing useful information in many patients. The main radiological finding that helps to differentiate vascular tumors from vascular malformations is the presence of soft-tissue mass. The presence of a soft tissue mass is associated with vascular tumors where as vascular malformation do not have soft-tissue mass. There are characteristic radiological features that may help to differentiate the vascular anomalies; knowledge of these features will increase the diagnostic and therapeutic accuracy rates. Copyright © 2011 by Türkiye Klinikleri.