Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Oct-Dec;26(4):126-130.

Identifying erroneously used terms for vascular anomalies: A review of the English literature

K Boulogeorgou  1 , E Avramidou  2 , T Koletsa  1
Affiliations
Review

Identifying erroneously used terms for vascular anomalies: A review of the English literature

K Boulogeorgou et al. Hippokratia. 2022 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Background: The classification of vascular anomalies includes terms of nomenclature that are not based on histogenesis resulting in confusion among health professionals of different specialties. Ongoing efforts to classify them properly have taken place. This literature review aimed to identify erroneous nomenclature of vascular anomalies and to investigate their continued use over the past four years after the last International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) update.

Methods: Literature research was based on pertinent classifications (ISSVA, WHO) and books related to vascular anomalies and soft tissue pathology. After identifying twelve entities with confusing terminology, new research in the Pubmed database was conducted to verify their continued use in the last four years.

Results: The literature review highlighted terms referring to vascular malformations as neoplasms. In addition, terms used as equivalents represent entirely different entities. On the other hand, different terms to characterize the same entity were also recorded. Furthermore, regardless of the last ISSVA update in 2018, terms that are only descriptive or do not correspond to vascular anomaly histogenesis are consistently used.

Conclusion: Despite intensive efforts in the last decades for correct terminology and classification of vascular anomalies, modifications are still required. A common and broadly accepted scientific terminology should be applied, accurately representing histogenesis or pathogenesis, to obtain a common language among medical specialists, given that a multidisciplinary approach is crucial for managing vascular anomalies. HIPPOKRATIA 2022, 26 (4):126-130.

Keywords: Vascular tumors; pathology of vascular anomalies; terminology in vascular anomalies; vascular anomaly; vascular malformations.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow chart of the search strategy and data collection process followed in this review that identified erroneously used terms for vascular anomalies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Wildgruber M, Sadick M, Müller-Wille R, Wohlgemuth WA. Vascular tumors in infants and adolescents. Insights Imaging. 2019;10:30. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rendón-Elías FG, Hernández-Sánchez M, Albores-Figueroa R, Montes-Tapia FF, Gómez-Danés LH. Congenital vascular malformations update. Medicina Universitaria. 2014;16:184–198.
    1. Heym KM, Masand PM, Margolin JF. How we approach the diagnosis of a vascular anomaly. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2022;69 Suppl 3:e29802. - PubMed
    1. Mulliken JB, Glowacki J. Hemangiomas and vascular malformations in infants and children: a classification based on endothelial characteristics. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1982;69:412–422. - PubMed
    1. Enjolras O, Mulliken JB, Kozakewich HPW. Vascular Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions. Mulliken JB, Burrows PE, Fishman SJ (eds). Mulliken and Young’s Vascular Anomalies: Hemangiomas and Malformations. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, New York. 2013:259–324.

LinkOut - more resources