eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: Surgery > Vascular Surgery

Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas: Workup

Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Pathology, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Coauthor(s): Richie L Lin, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School; Tzongjer J Wei, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School; Chief and Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital; Herbert Dardik, MD, FACS, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Chief, Department of Surgery, Chief, Vascular Surgical Service, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 8, 2008

Workup

Laboratory Studies

  • The diagnosis of vascular tumors and malformations is usually made solely on the basis of the history and physical examination.

Imaging Studies

  • MRI provides precise localization of the lesion. It is performed to detect the presence or absence of associated nervous system abnormalities. Furthermore, because vascular tumors have a distinct appearance on MRI, it is used in the diagnosis of atypical lesions.
  • Ultrasonography with color flow is cost effective; however, it is operator dependent and does not accurately depict the relation of the lesion to other anatomic structures.
  • Intracranial vascular anomalies are present in more than two thirds of patients with a periorbital lymphatic malformation and potentially require treatment.21 Imaging of patients with orbital lymphatic malformation should include the brain as well as orbit.

Diagnostic Procedures

  • Biopsy is performed if malignancy is suspected.

More on Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas

Overview: Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas
Workup: Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas
Treatment: Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas
Follow-up: Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas
Multimedia: Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

vascular malformation, vascular tumor, lymphangioma, angioma lymphaticum, cystic hygroma, cystic hydroma, hemangioma, birthmark, birth mark, nevus, port-wine stain, port-wine mark, fading macular stain, salmon patch, nevus flammeus, flame nevus, stork bite, angel's kiss, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, high-flow vascular malformation, arterial malformation, arteriovenous malformation, slow-flow vascular malformation, venous malformation, capillary malformation, lymphatic malformation, internal hemangioma, hemangiomatosis

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Pathology, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Richie L Lin, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tzongjer J Wei, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School; Chief and Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital
Tzongjer J Wei, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Herbert Dardik, MD, FACS, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Chief, Department of Surgery, Chief, Vascular Surgical Service, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Jeff L Myers, MD, PhD, Chief, Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Jeff L Myers, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, and International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine.com, Inc
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from broker recommendation; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from broker recommendation

Managing Editor

Andre Hebra, MD, Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina; Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina
Andre Hebra, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Pediatric Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, South Carolina Medical Association, Southeastern Surgical Congress, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine
Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Society of Hospital Medicine
Disclosure: Baxter Honoraria Consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Consulting

Chief Editor

Mary C Mancini, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Mary C Mancini, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Thoracic Society, Association for Academic Surgery, Association for Surgical Education, International College of Surgeons, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, New York Academy of Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa, and Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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