Investigations in Vascular Malformations

Vascular malformation is a complex clinical condition with myriad manifestations resulting from a variety of vascular lesions due to proliferative endothelium resulting from embryonic dysmorphogenesis. Clinical evaluation (Fig. 11.1) without imaging modality is never sufficient to classify categorically for complete diagnosis and guiding the treatment plan. Vascular endothelial lining of veins, arteries, lymphatics, or combined structures in skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, bones, or deep inside abdominal viscera may give rise to vascular malformations in various forms which need imaging evaluation (DUS, CT, MRI) always for complete diagnosis and treatment. The commonest location in the body is the head and neck region (40%), followed by extremities (40%) and trunks (20%) [1]. Prevalence of vascular malformations is about 4.5% with peripheral vascular malformations in population 0.8–1% [2, 3].