Interventional radiography in management of high-flow arteriovenous malformation of maxilla: report of a case

Surgical management of head and neck vascular anomalies in children: a retrospective analysis of 42 patients

OBJECTIVE

This article aimed to present a series of surgically treated head and neck vascular anomalies during a 12-year period, highlighting the epidemiology, diagnostic approach, indications for surgery, and final clinical outcome.

STUDY DESIGN

The medical records of all patients with head and neck vascular anomalies, surgically treated at our department from 1998 to 2010, were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 42 patients with 46 vascular anomalies were identified. Patients' diagnoses included vascular tumors, hemangiomas mainly (18 cases), and various vascular malformations (26 cases). All patients were submitted to surgical treatment (excision-resection) to resolve main clinical symptoms (ulceration, bleeding, impaired mastication and feeding, airway obstruction) and/or esthetic issues. Recurrence was noted in 3 patients.

CONCLUSION

Accurate differential diagnosis based on history, physical examination, and imaging, is the key to optimal treatment. Surgical intervention is warranted for small to moderately extended lesions to avoid complications and/or esthetic concerns and psychosocial distress.

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the mandible managed by conservative surgical therapy with preoperative embolization

A 9-year-old girl visited our hospital, complaining of a rapid-growing and rigid swelling on the left posterior mandibular area. Panoramic radiograph showed a moderately defined multilocular honeycomb appearance involving the left mandibular body. CT scan revealed an expansile, multilocular osteolytic lesion and multiple fluid levels within cystic spaces. Bone scan demonstrated increased radiotracer uptake and angiography showed a highly vascularized lesion. The lesion was suspected as aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) and preoperative embolization was performed, which minimize the extent of operation and the surgical complication. The lesion was treated by surgical curettage and lateral decortication with repositioning. No additional treatment such as a surgical reconstruction or bone graft was needed. Early diagnosis of ABC is very important and appropriate treatment should be performed considering several factors such as age, surgical complication, and possibility of recurrence.