J Korean Radiol Soc.
1992 Dec;28(6):831-838.
Imaging diagnosis of venous malformation in head and neck
Abstract
- The venous malformation in head and neck is a developmental vascular disease which arises from the arrest in the certain stage of vascular embryogenesis. However, the lesion extends along the fascia and has a tendancy to recur after incomplete therapy. Retrospectively, the authors reviewed radiologic studies of 20 patients diagnosed as venous malformation during the last 5 years. The diagnosis was verified by histopathology (5 patients) and direct puncture angiography (15 patients). The radiologic studies included. CT with intravenous contrast injection (20 patients), RI angiography with 99m Tc-pyrophosphate (6 patients), and direct puncture angiography (15 patients). Multiplicity of venous malformation was noted in 9 patients. On CT scan, the lesions had lobulated irregular shape, with heterogeneous appearance, showed delayed enhancing characteristics, and had the phleboliths(21 lesions). The venous malformations were located at the masticator space (including masseter muscle) (n=12), retrobulbar space(n=6), submandibular space(n=4), paravertebral space(n=3) and so on. In two cases, the lesions were very extensive involving entire neck and parapharynx. On RI angiography using 99mTc-pyrophosphate, all of the lesions showed persistent and delayed uptake. With direct punture angiography the lesions could be classified as acinar pattern (n=17) and mixed pattern (acinar and saccular) (n=2). Venous connections were noted in 10 lesions. In conclusion, if a soft tissue mass on head and neck shows a heterogeneous attenuation density with or without calcified phlebolith on CT scan, RI angiography is recommended as a next diagnostic study. If it shows delayed persistent uptake, venous malformation can be suspected. Finally direct puncture angiography can verify the nature and extent of the lesions.
