Arterial Vascular Malformations Including Hemangiomas and Lymphangiomas Workup

  • Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Mary C Mancini, MD, PhD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 20, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

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

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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.[27] Imaging of patients with orbital lymphatic malformation should include the brain as well as orbit.

Prenatal diagnosis of an intracranial, rapidly involuting congenital hemangioma has been described using prenatal imaging.[28]

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Diagnostic Procedures

Biopsy is performed if malignancy is suspected.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH  Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-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.

Specialty Editor Board

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.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Andre Hebra, MD  Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine; Surgeon-in-Chief, Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital

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, Children's Oncology Group, Florida Medical Association, International Pediatric Endosurgery Group, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, South Carolina Medical Association, Southeastern Surgical Congress, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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

Chief Editor

Mary C Mancini, MD, PhD  Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport

Mary C Mancini, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Surgical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and Southern Surgical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Neal Ammar, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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Fully developed vascular tumor on the trunk of an infant.
Large vascular tumor that encompasses the upper extremity and portions of the trunk, clinically diagnosed.
A lower extremity port-wine stain in a patient with Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome.
 
 
 
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