Management of Combined Vascular Malformations

Surgical Resection of Vulvar Labial Venous Malformations: A Single Center Experience

BACKGROUND

Venous malformations (VMs) involving the vulva are rare but often cause debilitating pain, aesthetic concern, and functional impairment. Treatment with medical therapy, sclerotherapy, operative resection, or a combination thereof may be considered. The optimal therapeutic approach remains unclear. We report our experience resecting labial VMs in a large cohort of patients.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients who underwent partial or complete resection of a labial VM was conducted.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients underwent forty-three resections of vulvar VMs between 1998 and 2022. Physical examination and imaging demonstrated: 16% of patients had focal labial lesions, 6% had multifocal labial lesions, and 77% had extensive labial lesions. Indications for intervention included pain (83%), appearance (21%), functional impairment (17%), bleeding (10%), and cellulitis (7%). Sixty-one percent of patients underwent a single resection, 13% multiple partial resections, and 26% a combination of sclerotherapy and operative resection(s). Median age was 16.3 years at first operation. All patients requiring multiple operations had extensive VMs. Median blood loss was 200 mL. Postoperative complications included wound infection/dehiscence (14%), hematoma (2%), and urinary tract infection (2%). The median follow-up assessment was 14 months: 88% of patients had no complaints and 3 patients were experiencing recurrent discomfort.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection is a safe and effective approach to treating vulvar labial VMs. Patients with focal or multifocal VMs can be successfully treated with a single resection, whereas patients with an extensive VM may require multiple partial resections or combined sclerotherapy and resection(s) to achieve long-term control.

TYPE OF STUDY

Retrospective Study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Overgrowth syndromes and new therapies

Overgrowth syndromes represent a diverse group of disorders with overlapping features. Interdisciplinary management by a team of experts in vascular anomalies is crucial for establishing the correct diagnosis and optimizing outcomes for these patients. Unique management considerations include increased risk for thrombosis and in some cases, cancer. In recent years, research has demonstrated that these disorders are primarily caused by somatic mutations in growth pathways, particularly the PI3K-mTOR pathway. This improved understanding had led to promising new therapies for this group of patients.

Vascular lesions of the head and neck: an update on classification and imaging review

Vascular lesions have a varied appearance and can commonly occur in the head and neck. A majority of these lesions are cutaneous and congenital; however, some may be acquired and malignant. The presentation and clinical history of patients presenting with head and neck lesions can be used to guide further imaging, which can provide important diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. This review discusses the revised International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) classification system for vascular tumors and malformations, as well as explores the most common vascular anomalies including their clinical presentations and imaging findings.

Wound-Healing Problems Associated with Combined Vascular Malformations in Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome

Significance: In Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS), management of a wound in the affected limb can be difficult because of the underlying vascular malformations present. This review describes the characteristics of KTS with wound complications in light of the genetic and molecular mechanisms of the disease. Recent Advances: KTS is a slow-flow combined vascular malformation characterized by the triad of capillary malformation, venous malformation with or without lymphatic malformation, and limb overgrowth. KTS is encompassed within the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA)-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS), having recently been linked to activating mutations in the PIK3CA gene. This clearly has implications for both molecular diagnosis and potential treatment strategies for the disease. Critical Issues: KTS should be distinguished from Parkes Weber syndrome, a fast-flow-type combined vascular malformation with limb overgrowth. Individualized management is needed for KTS and should be focused on the treatment of symptoms. Future Directions: Targeted therapies that inhibit the phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway are a potential treatment option for PROS.

Sonographic screening for Wilms tumor in children with CLOVES syndrome

BACKGROUND

CLOVES syndrome is associated with somatic mosaic PIK3CA mutations and characterized by congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevi, and skeletal anomalies. Wilms tumor (WT) is a malignant embryonal renal neoplasm associated with hemihypertrophy and certain overgrowth disorders. After identifying WT in a child with CLOVES, we questioned whether ultrasonographic screening was necessary in these patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with CLOVES syndrome in our Vascular Anomalies Center at Boston Children's Hospital between 1998 and 2016 to identify those who developed WT. A PubMed literature search was also conducted to find other patients with both conditions.

RESULTS

A total of 122 patients with CLOVES syndrome were found in our database (mean age 7.7 years, range 0-53 years). Four patients developed WT; all were diagnosed by 2 years of age. The incidence of WT in our CLOVES patient population (3.3%) was significantly greater than the incidence of WT in the general population (1/10,000) (P < 0.001). Four additional patients with WT and CLOVES syndrome were identified in our literature review.

CONCLUSION

Patients with CLOVES syndrome have an increased risk of WT. Given the benefits of early detection and treatment, children with CLOVES syndrome should be considered for quarterly abdominal ultrasonography until age 7 years. Screening may be most beneficial for patients under 3 years of age.

Combined Lymphedema and Capillary Malformation of the Lower Extremity

Primary lymphedema and capillary malformation are independent vascular malformations that can cause overgrowth of the lower extremity. We report a series of patients who had both types of malformations affecting the same leg. The condition is unique but may be confused with other types of vascular malformation overgrowth conditions (eg, Klippel–Trenaunay and Parkes Weber).

Outcomes of Surgical Treatment of Vascular Anomalies on the Vermilion

Background

The vermilion plays an important role in both the aesthetic and functional aspects of facial anatomy. Due to its structural features, the complete excision of vascular anomalies on the vermilion is challenging, making it difficult to determine the appropriate treatment strategy. Thus, the authors analyzed the results of surgical treatment of vascular anomalies on the vermilion.

Methods

The medical records of 38 patients with vascular anomalies on the vermilion who underwent surgery from 1995 to 2013 were analyzed. Nine of the cases had an involuted hemangioma, and 29 cases had a vascular malformation; of the vascular malformations, 13, 11, one, and four cases involved were capillary malformations (CMs), venous malformations (VMs), lymphatic malformations (LMs), and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), respectively. We investigated the surgical methods used to treat these patients, the quantity of surgical procedures, complications and instances of recurrence, and self-assessed satisfaction scores.

Results

A total of 50 operations were carried out: 28 horizontal partial excisions, eight vertical partial excisions, and 14 operations using other surgical methods. All cases of AVM underwent complete excision. Six cases experienced minor complications and one case of recurrence was observed. The overall average satisfaction score was 4.1 out of 5, while the satisfaction scores associated with each lesion type were 4.2 for hemangiomas, 3.9 for CMs, 4.2 for VMs, 5.0 for LMs, and 4.0 for AVMs.

Conclusions

It is difficult to completely excise vascular anomalies that involve the vermilion. This study suggests that partial excision focused on correcting the overall contour of the lips is effective and leads to satisfactory results.

Vascular Anomalies in Pediatrics

A standardized classification system allows improvements in diagnostic accuracy. Multidisciplinary vascular anomaly centers combine medical, surgical, radiologic, and pathologic expertise. This collaborative approach tailors treatment and management of vascular anomalies for affected individuals.

Overgrowth syndromes with complex vascular anomalies

Management of overgrowth syndromes with complex vascular anomalies is challenging. Careful analysis of the various clinical features by an interdisciplinary team of physicians experienced in this field is paramount to proper diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In this article, we focus on the spectrum of the clinical presentation and the management strategies of the most common overgrowth syndromes with complex vascular anomalies.

S.E. Mitchell Vascular Anomalies Flow Chart (SEMVAFC): a visual pathway combining clinical and imaging findings for classification of soft-tissue vascular anomalies

Classification of vascular anomalies (VAs) is challenging due to overlapping clinical symptoms, confusing terminology in the literature and unfamiliarity with this complex entity. It is important to recognize that VAs include two distinct entities, vascular tumours (VTs) and vascular malformations (VaMs). In this article, we describe SE Mitchell Vascular Anomalies Flow Chart (SEMVAFC), which arises from a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates clinical symptoms, physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to establish International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA)-based classification of the VAs. SEMVAFC provides a clear visual pathway for physicians to accurately diagnose Vas, which is important as treatment, management, and prognosis differ between VTs and VaMs.

Complex vascular anomalies

The classification system for vascular anomalies now used by experts worldwide comprises two distinct disease entities that differ in their biologic and pathologic features: vascular tumors and vascular malformations. Vascular tumors include infantile and congenital hemangiomas, tufted angiomas, and kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas. Infantile hemangiomas, the most common vascular anomaly, generally have a predetermined life cycle (proliferation and subsequent involution). GLUT-1, a glucose transporter, is a marker for these specific lesions during all phases of development. Vascular malformations are classified according to their vascular tissue of origin and include capillary, venous, arteriovenous, lymphatic, and mixed malformations. Complex lymphatic malformations and complex mixed malformations, which may have most vascular components, are the most difficult vascular malformations to successfully treat. These lesions are present at birth and often expand or grow in response to trauma, infection, or hormonal changes. Imaging advancements have enabled more accurate assessments and improved management of vascular anomalies. In addition, many lesions are now being managed with targeted pharmacologic therapy. Propranolol and steroids are used for complex or disfiguring tumors, and new anti-angiogenesis inhibitors such as sirolimus are selectively used to treat lymphatic and venous lymphatic malformations that are poorly responsive to sclerotherapy, embolization, and surgical excision. Multimodal therapies are often essential for complex lesions and require the combined expertise of an interdisciplinary team.

Germline Mutations in RASA1 Are Not Found in Patients with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome or Capillary Malformation with Limb Overgrowth

The RASA1 gene encodes p120RASGAP, a multidomain cytoplasmic protein that acts as a negative regulator of the RAS signalling pathway. Heterozygous loss-of-function RASA1 mutations were identified in patients with Parkes Weber syndrome and multifocal capillary malformations. This syndrome is characterised by a capillary blush on an extremity, arteriovenous microfistulas, and bony and soft tissue hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to test RASA1 in 2 disorders characterised by asymmetric limb enlargement and vascular malformations, namely Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and regional capillary malformation with overgrowth. We did not identify any clear pathogenic change in these patients. Thus, besides clinical and radiological criteria, RASA1 testing constitutes an additional tool to differentiate Parkes Weber syndrome of capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM) from overlapping disorders.

Vascular anomalies: hemangiomas and beyond--part 1, Fast-flow lesions

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to review the medical literature and the current classification of vascular anomalies to clarify common misconceptions and provide guidance for imaging and treatment. In this first article of a two-part series, we focus on the fast-flow vascular anomalies.

CONCLUSION

Nonuniformity of terminology across the medical literature hampers understanding of the vascular anomalies. A familiarity with the classification and biology on which this terminology is based is essential for accurate and precise diagnosis.