Vascular anomalies are a group of disorders affecting the vascular system, including arteries, veins, capillaries, and lymphatic vessels.
Types:
- Vascular Malformations: Congenital anomalies that are present at birth and grow proportionally with the individual. Unlike haemangiomas, they do not exhibit a rapid growth and involution cycle.
- Vascular Tumours: These include benign neoplasms such as infantile haemangiomas and congenital haemangiomas, which may exhibit a distinct growth pattern and clinical course.
Classification:
Vascular malformations are classified according to their flow characteristics:
- Slow-flow lesions: Capillary, venous, and lymphatic malformations.
- Fast-flow lesions: Arteriovenous malformations.
Causes:
These anomalies result from errors in vascular development during embryogenesis. Some cases are associated with underlying genetic mutations or syndromes.
Symptoms:
Clinical presentation varies but may include swelling, pain, skin discoloration, bleeding, or other site-specific symptoms depending on the location and extent of the anomaly.
Diagnosis:
Accurate diagnosis involves a detailed medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and angiography to assess the lesion’s nature and vascular dynamics.
Treatment:
Management strategies depend on the type, size, and anatomical location of the vascular anomaly. Options may include observation, pharmacologic therapy, surgical excision, laser therapy, or interventional radiological procedures.
Complications:
Potential complications include pain, swelling, haemorrhage, infection, and in severe cases, functional impairment or skeletal abnormalities such as fractures.
Benign Nature: Vascular malformations are benign lesions, meaning they are non-cancerous and do not metastasize.