Vascular Anomalies of the Head and Neck

It is important at the outset to distinguish the two main groups of vascular anomalies: vascular malformations and vascular tumours (e.g. haemangiomas). Vascular malformations are localized errors of angiogenic development, which should be distinguished from haemangiomas. They may involve any portion of the vascular system—arteries, veins, capillaries and lymphatics. Vascular malformations are therefore structural anomalies present at birth, which may or may not be clinically evident. Haemangiomas by contrast are tumorous growths, with increased endothelial cell proliferation as a distinguishing hallmark [1].