Vascular tumors and malformations of the limbs

• Published in: Chirurgie de la main Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 278 - 287
• Main Author: Guéro, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.12.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Arteriovenous Malformations - diagnosis; Arteriovenous Malformations - therapy; Child, Preschool; Female; Glomus Tumor - diagnosis; Glomus Tumor - therapy; Hand - blood supply; Hand Deformities, Congenital - diagnosis; Hand Deformities, Congenital - therapy; Hemangioma - diagnosis; Hemangioma - therapy; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neoplasms, Vascular Tissue - diagnosis; Neoplasms, Vascular Tissue - therapy
• ISSN: 1297-3203
• DOI: 10.1016/j.main.2007.10.004

According to many practitioners, any vascular swelling is a "Hemangioma". This generic term leads to much confusion: some lesions present a spontaneous regression while the others tend to worsen all the life long. The only common feature is the histological pattern. The vast majority of the vascular lesions are benign and the malignant tumors are extremely rare. However, if some vascular lesions have minor consequences and can be easily managed, in many cases a curative treatment cannot be assessed and some complex lesions can threaten life. An International Classification has been established. It allows appreciating the differences between the various entities - malformations and tumors - their evolutive features and helps to decide the most appropriate investigations and treatment. Now, every surgeon should learn and use this classification, to achieve an accurate diagnosis and to improve the management of these vascular anomalies.