Vascular malformations of the head and neck

Abstract

Objective: Vascular malformations may appear anywhere in the body; 14-65% are in the head and neck. There are several treatments (sclerotherapy, surgery, laser treatment, and embolization, etc.), but standardized guidelines for these treatments are lacking. We conducted a retrospective review of venous or capillary malformations of the head and neck, and analyzed the epidemiology, pathology and treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 67 patients with pathologically diagnosed venous or capillary malformations of the head and neck; we analyzed the location, pathology and treatment, as well as recurrent/residual cases.

Results: The oral cavity (59%) and nasal cavity (35%) were the most common locations. The frequency of each pathological type depended upon location. Surgery was undertaken in 65 cases, and sclerotherapy done in one patient. Sixty-one cases (92%) had resectable lesions. However polycystic masses (≥3 cysts) and large masses (diameter, ≥5cm) were significantly difficult to cure by single treatment.

Conclusions: Surgery is indicated for localized small vascular malformations. However if the lesions ≥5cm or polycystic lesions were more likely to recur after surgery alone in our study population.