Pediatric vascular malformations

Abstract

The appropriate classification and understanding of the pathophysiology of vascular malformations, both within and outside the central nervous system, is of the utmost importance in the diagnosis and treatment of these entities. This is critical, both in determining the appropriate types of treatment for given lesions and in determining which lesions may require no treatment at all. Similarly, understanding of the pathology of a given entity informs the goals of therapy. As highlighted in this chapter, many of these malformations may have protean clinical and radiologic presentations. As such, a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of vascular malformations is important. Multidisciplinary medicine is at its core, reliant on precise and clear communication, and thus precise utilization of terminology of greater importance. The multidisciplinary approach to management, as well as the rarity of many of these malformations and operator-dependent risk of therapy, makes most vascular malformations ideal candidates for therapy at specialized, large-volume institutions.