Classification of vascular anomalies: an update

JE Steiner, BA Drolet - Seminars in Interventional Radiology, 2017 - thieme-connect.com
JE Steiner, BA Drolet
Seminars in Interventional Radiology, 2017thieme-connect.com
Vascular anomalies present both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to physicians.
Identification of these lesions is difficult due to their immense phenotypic variability, and
naming conventions for vascular anomalies have historically been inconsistent. Terms such
as “hemangioma” are informative when used correctly, but can cause confusion and
miscommunication if applied indiscriminately to all vascular anomalies. Accuracy in
classification is essential, as both disease course and therapeutic options differ greatly …
Vascular anomalies present both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to physicians. Identification of these lesions is difficult due to their immense phenotypic variability, and naming conventions for vascular anomalies have historically been inconsistent. Terms such as “hemangioma” are informative when used correctly, but can cause confusion and miscommunication if applied indiscriminately to all vascular anomalies. Accuracy in classification is essential, as both disease course and therapeutic options differ greatly depending on the particular vascular anomaly present. In order for clinicians to properly diagnose and treat patients with these diseases, a unified nomenclature must be employed. This section provides an update on the current classification of vascular anomalies, with clinical descriptions of the most commonly encountered lesions, and clarifies the ambiguous nomenclature present in the existing literature.
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