Vascular anomalies - The key role of ultrasound in making the diagnosis
Fariba Williams, Mariesa Taylor-Allkins, Roy Wheeler, Alex Barnacle, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London
Learning objectives:
Vascular anomalies are richly varied in their clinical presentation and can be a diagnostic challenge for those without experience in this field. The classification of vascular anomalies is explained, with examples of the characteristic sonographic features of each subtype. The poster emphasises why it is also crucial to take a comprehensive clinical history and examine the patient to ensure the correct diagnosis. The poster includes examples of all the vascular anomaly subtypes encountered at a specialist paediatric vascular anomalies referral centre and aims to simplify this diagnostic field for the sonographer.
Background:
Vascular anomalies are common, with haemangiomas occurring in approximately 1 in 22 children. The clinical spectrum of vascular anomalies is diverse and imaging features vary according to the age of the child. Ultrasound is an efficient, non-invasive and highly effective imaging modality for characterisation of these anomalies but an understanding of the medical history and clinical findings is key to making a definitive diagnosis and advising on subsequent management.
Findings:
Over 500 soft tissue ultrasound scans have been reviewed in order to demonstrate:
- The variety of clinical presentations of vascular anomalies in childhood
- Recommended scanning techniques and ultrasound protocols for compartmentalising the main VA subtypes
- How to differentiate between a vascular malformation and a haemangioma or other benign vascular tumour
- The value of ultrasound in directing further investigation and management of vascular anomalies
Summary:
Vascular anomalies are richly varied in their clinical presentation and can be a diagnostic challenge for those without experience in this field. This poster gives an overview of the lesion subtypes and highlights aspects of the clinical history, examination and ultrasound study which are critical in making a correct and confident diagnosis.