Combined glue embolization and excision for the treatment of venous malformations

Contemporary management of extracranial vascular malformations

Vascular malformations are congenital vascular anomalies that originate because of disorganized angiogenesis, most commonly from spontaneous somatic genetic mutations. The modern management of vascular malformations requires a multidisciplinary team that offers patients the gamut of medical, surgical, and percutaneous treatment options with supportive care. This manuscript discusses the standard and contemporary management strategies surrounding extracranial vascular malformations and overgrowth syndromes.

American society of pediatric otolaryngology vascular anomalies task force review of tongue venous malformations: Techniques, pearls, and pitfalls

Management of tongue venous malformations can be challenging in the pediatric population due to their heterogeneity in presentation, extent of involvement and functional compromise. It is important to recognize the value of various treatment options in order to guide management of each patient in an individualized fashion. Here we describe a series of patients with tongue venous malformations that are managed using diverse modalities to illustrate the relative benefits and risks of each technique. The challenges of venous malformation treatment can be mitigated by tailoring the approach to each individual patient and malformation. This case series also emphasizes the need and importance of working in the setting of a multidisciplinary vascular anomalies team.

Management of a Gluteal Noninvoluting Hemangioma With Glue Embolization and Excision

Noninvoluting congenital hemangiomas (NICHs) persist in a high-flow state into childhood and often require surgical excision. The inherent vascular nature of these tumors make effective surgical treatment challenging. Here we report on a patient that underwent intraoperative glue embolization and complete excision of a large gluteal NICH. Concurrent glue embolization followed by complete excision allows for decreased intraoperative blood loss and easier discrimination between the tumor and surrounding structures. Treating difficult vascular tumors with a multidisciplinary approach and subsequent intraoperative glue embolization with surgical excision allows for an effective, single-stage approach to NICHs.

Large scalp venous malformation in a pediatric patient managed with sclerotherapy and surgery: a case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Venous malformations (VMs) are slow-flow vascular anomalies present at birth that enlarge during adolescence, subsequently causing thrombosis, hemorrhage, and pain.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe a case of an adolescent male presenting with a large scalp venous malformation. Given the size and location of the lesion, a hybrid approach employing both sclerotherapy and surgical resection was utilized. The VM was successfully removed without complication.

CONCLUSION

A hybrid approach is a safe and effective treatment consideration for immediate management of large venous malformation in higher-risk locations.

Cut and cure: surgical therapy of synovitis

Surgical management for synovitis has undergone radical change in the last few years with the evolution of DMARDs and advanced Interventional Radiology techniques. Here we present areas where surgical therapy may still be the most effective option, either alone or in conjunction with non-surgical measures.

Interventional Treatment Options in Children with Extracranial Vascular Malformations

Extracranial vascular malformations vary greatly and belong to the complex field of orphan diseases and can involve all segments of the vascular tree: arteries, capillaries, and veins, and similarly the lymphatic system. The classification according to the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) represents an important guidance for selecting appropriate therapy. Although many of the principles of endovascular treatment, including image-guided sclerotherapy and embolization, are similar in adult and pediatric practice, there are some distinct differences regarding the treatment of vascular malformations of children. Thus, it is crucial to involve longer-term plan about managing these chronic diseases and their impact on a growing child. This review provides a detailed overview over the clinical presentation of venous, lymphatic, and arteriovenous malformations in children and emphasizes the specifics of their interventional treatment options, including distinct pediatric dose limitations and procedure-related side effects.

Migration of n-BCA glue as a complication of venous malformation treatment in children

Preoperative n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) embolization of venous malformations facilitates surgical resection. Although embolization is generally well-tolerated, central venous n-BCA migration can occur. The purpose of this article is to describe 3 cases of glue migration requiring glue embolectomy. Strategies for prevention and treatment of glue migration during embolization of venous malformations are reviewed.

Vascular anomalies of the head and neck: diagnosis and treatment

Vascular malformations and vascular tumors comprise the two specific subsets of vascular anomalies that arise as a result of disorganized angiogenesis and neoplasm, respectively. Malformations are separate entities from vascular tumors (e.g., hemangiomas) and are recognized by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) as such. Vascular malformations are classified into four main groups: simple, combined, anomalies of major vessels, and those associated with other vascular anomalies. Vascular tumors are neoplastic growths of blood vessels and are morphologically and molecularly distinct from malformations but can arise in the head and neck and have syndromic association. Head and neck vascular anomalies are not uncommon in the pediatric population and require special care in the workup, diagnostic imaging and clinical care. The purpose of this manuscript is to discuss the diagnosis and management of the most common intracranial and extracranial vascular malformations and tumors in the head and neck in children and adolescents.

Surgical Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Malformations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment of peripheral vascular malformations is widely performed as primary and secondary treatments. Excellent results have been reported; however, it is thought that complications are likely to occur because of damage to adjacent structures. This systematic review aimed to elucidate the indications and outcomes of surgical treatment of vascular malformations.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for studies reporting outcomes of surgery in at least 15 patients with a single type of peripheral soft-tissue vascular malformation. The authors extracted data on patient and lesion characteristics, treatment characteristics, and outcomes (including complications). Meta-analysis was conducted on recurrence and complication rates.

RESULTS

A total of 3042 articles were found, of which 24 were included: nine studies on arteriovenous malformations, seven on venous malformations, and eight on lymphatic malformations, totaling 980 patients. Meta-analyses showed pooled proportions for recurrences of 11 percent in arteriovenous malformations, 5 percent in venous malformations, and 9 percent in lymphatic malformations. Pooled proportions of major complications were 9 percent for arteriovenous malformations, 3 percent for venous malformations, and 1 percent for lymphatic malformations. The authors found a 5 percent pooled recurrence proportion in total resections, compared with 28 percent in subtotal resections. The pooled odds ratio for recurrence in total and subtotal resections showed a significant lower recurrence rate after total resection (odds ratio, 0.14, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment of vascular malformations appears to be effective and safe in many cases. However, it seems that surgery is performed predominantly in small lesions, and subtotal resection has a higher risk of recurrence than total resection.

Management of vascular malformations in the Oral and maxillofacial region: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The purpose is to determine the comprehensive review and the current concepts on the management of vascular malformation and to evaluate the long term outcomes, recurrence and complication rate.

METHODS

This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020173735). The PUBMED, EBSCO, SCOPUS and NDH databases were used to perform a comprehensive search of articles published up until July 2020. The database search identified 1719 articles. After an intricate review, 34 studies were estimated for eligibility.

RESULTS

A total of 1719 patients with mean age of 27.48 years were treated for vascular malformation in the oral and maxillofacial region. Moderate heterogeneity was observed for the outcome (P = 0.166; 95% CI:1.01-1.46, I² = 48%). As determined by one-way ANOVA, there was no statistically significant difference between the type of diagnosis and the recurrence (F = 2.313, p = 0.092) and the complication rate (F = 2.112, p = 0.117).

CONCLUSION

In accordance with the available scientific literature, this review has highlighted the modalities and advancement in the management of vascular malformations. Complications and recurrence were reported in all types of management. It can be avoided by careful diagnosis, pre-operative assessment and treatment planning.

Ultrasound Evaluation of Pediatric Slow-Flow Vascular Malformations: Practical Diagnostic Reporting to Guide Interventional Management

OBJECTIVE. This article reviews the ultrasound characteristics of pediatric slow-flow vascular malformations and underscores findings that significantly impact diagnosis and treatment. Key imaging features are discussed including lesion size, malformation location, morphology, and mimics. CONCLUSION. Ultrasound findings affect the management of slow-flow vascular malformations and should be emphasized in lesion diagnosis. Superficial, focal lesions with well-defined margins are ideal for ultrasound evaluation.

Vascular anomalies: special considerations in children

The diagnosis and treatment of vascular anomalies are a large part of the caseload for paediatric interventional radiologists. Although many of the principles of sclerotherapy and embolisation are the same in adult and paediatric practice, there are some key differences in the approach for children, including some longer term thinking about managing these chronic diseases and their impact on a growing child. Vascular tumours are not often seen in adult IR practice and the rarest can be life threatening; knowledge of the commonest types and the role IR can play in their management can be instrumental in ensuring that children get appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Vascular anomalies also encompass some conditions associated with complex overgrowth, a subject that often causes confusion and uncertainty for interventional radiologists. This paper presents a simplified and practical approach to this spectrum of disease.

Utilizing immediate preoperative n-BCA in the resection of head and neck venous and lymphatic malformations

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

To add to the current literature on single stage excision of head and neck vascular malformations with preoperative n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) glue. Unlike previous studies, this series includes pediatric and adult patients, highlights a single stage partial excision of a complex venous malformation, and describes the first description of using glue prior to resection of a macrocystic lymphatic malformation.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series with chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary-care adult and pediatric hospital.

SUBJECTS AND RESULTS

Four patients (3 males - 9, 13, 25 years, 1 female - 61 years) underwent same day excision of head and neck vascular malformations utilizing immediate preoperative n-BCA glue embolization performed by interventional radiology and otolaryngology, as described by Tieu et al. The indications for resection included bleeding (1/4), pain (3/4), cosmetic deformity (3/4), and discomfort with denture wear (1/4). Prior interventions included none (1/4), cautery and primary closure to control acute hemorrhage (1/4), and sclerotherapy (2/4). Treatments included complete embolization and resection of simple venous malformation (VM)s of the oral cavity/lip (2/4), partial embolization and resection of a complex hemifacial venous malformation (VM) (1/4), and complete embolization and resection of a lymphatic malformation (LM) (1/4). On average, 97 min of anesthesia time was added for the preoperative embolization procedure (range, 94-104 min). All patients had a successful embolization without need for coils. Operative time ranged from 28 to 44 min for the simple cases and was 6 h and 30 min for the complex case. There was minimal blood loss in all cases. There were no associated complications, lesion recurrences, or long-term deficits at an average follow-up of 5 months. The patient with the complex hemifacial VM demonstrated subtle lower facial weakness post-operatively, which completely resolved within two months.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of head and neck vascular malformations with preoperative n-BCA glue and subsequent surgical excision is a viable method for both simple and complex lesions. The safety and efficacy of this technique has been demonstrated in the past in a limited number of studies. This study further supports the use of this technique to address patient concerns such as pain or discomfort and cosmetic deformity, even if the lesion is only partially resectable. In our series a lymphatic malformation refractory to sclerotherapy was treated with a similar technique of glue and resection, following aspiration of the mucoid LM fluid. Our series emphasizes that pediatric vascular malformations carry functional and cosmetic deficits into adulthood that can and should be addressed in this patient population. Therefore, same-day embolization and resection should be coordinated when possible, in order to optimize patient safety and convenience.

Image Guided Sclerotherapy of Masseteric Venous Malformations

Objective:

To describe results of image guided sclerotherapy of venous malformations (VM) localized in the masseter muscle.

Methods:

Retrospective review of prospectively maintained data was done to include consecutive cases treated over 5-year period, with minimum 6 months follow-up. Sclerotherapy was done using ultrasound (US) guided needle puncture(s) of the lesions percutaneously, and 3% polidocanol foam injected under image guidance.

Results:

Seventeen cases (10 male, 7 female) with mean age 15.6 years (range 6-28 years) were identified. Clinical presentation was with facial asymmetry, becoming pronounced on jaw clenching, and three cases had mild local pain. On US, the lesions appeared as partially compressible masses with anechoic spaces, showing color filling on releasing probe pressure. Fourteen had phleboliths. Eight patients had undergone magnetic resonance imaging, lesions appearing as oval, homogenous, lobulated, T2 hyperintense masses, with heterogeneous contrast enhancement. Number of sclerotherapy sessions were—single in four cases, two in eight cases and three in five cases, for total of 35 sessions (average 2.05 session per patient). The mean dose of drug injected per session was 1.85 mL and total mean dose per patient was 2.79 mL. Post-procedure vomiting occurred in one patient while all had local swelling and mild pain, lasting between 3 to 7 days. No facial nerve palsy or sloughing/ulceration/skin necrosis was noted. On US follow-up (6-26 months, mean 15.9 months), 12 patients had small echogenic masses without any vascularity, and five had small anechoic areas <25%. All patients had complete resolution of swelling and pain.

Conclusions:

For VMs localized to the masseter muscle, image guided sclerotherapy is highly effective and safe, and recommended as first line treatment.