Head and Neck Vascular Anomalies. Challenges and Prospects

Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations are both vascular anomalies with distinct clinical and histological features. Being different entities, they require a different diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Distinguishing between the two main categories of vascular anomalies may sometimes be challenging. Current classification concepts recognize separate groups of diseases within the two main categories of vascular lesions.

The purpose of the presentation is to clarify the current classification scheme and provide information regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic methodology for each of the most common types of these lesions. The importance of a multidisciplinary approach, and the role of the Maxillofacial Surgeon will be emphasized. All treatment modalities and the order of their implementation will be presented. A step by step treatment sequence in selected case-presentations will be analyzed to facilitate a better understanding of their management.

As a conclusion, it will be shown that vascular anomalies today can be safely treated; their management requires a multidisciplinary team of physicians with specialized training, surgery can play a key role in their treatment along with many other treatment modalities, and the "benign neglect", "wait and see", or "do nothing" approaches of the past have been replaced by successful treatment protocols.