Multidetector computed tomography of neck and head hemangiomas in children

Vascular malformations can be difficult to diagnose and classify. Accurate classification is important because treatment and prognosis depend on the lesion’s type. Diagnosis is based on analysis of clinical features and a variety of imaging techniques, including US, MRI/MRA, CT, and conventional angiography. We reviewed CT scans of 61 patients with pathologically proven vascular lesions. The 3-D images accurately diagnosed hemangiomas and lymphangiomas in all cases, in contrast to diagnosis by clinical criteria and planar CT, which was difficult or inaccurate. Our preliminary observations suggest that volume-rendered reconstruction is helpful in differentiation of clinically significant vascular head and neck lesions, resulting in increase of diagnostic value. In particular, 3-D CT angiography allowed accurate differentiation of hemangiomas from other vascular malformations, which was not possible using clinical examination or conventional planar CT angiography.