eRadiograph Volume 7: Imaging of Oral Cavity | Page 198

Lesion Classification
Vascular Malformations
1. Capillary malformation
2. Venous malformation
3. Lymphatic malformation
4. Arteriovenous malformation
5. Mixed type lesion
Vascular Tumors
1. Hemangioma
2. Carotid body tumor
3. Glomus jugulare tumor
4. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
Terminology: New and Old
New: Hemangioma Capillary malformation Venous malformation
Lymphatic malformation
Old: Capillary hemangioma. (Portwinestain) Cavernous hemangioma Lymphangioma
cystic hygroma

Vascular Malformations:
Capillary malformations:
In the head and neck these present classically as a port wine stain. These lesions follow
a dermatome pattern of the trigeminal nerve. Imaging plays a limited role as the
diagnosis is made clinically. However in patients with Sturge Weber Syndrome or where
the clinical diagnosis is not obvious, imaging is of value in demonstrating
leptomeningeal vascular malformations and other sequelae of the disease process. On
imaging, capillary malformations are located in the dermis and do not extend deeper
into the tissues to involve bony structures like other vascular lesions. They may be
demonstrated on sonography as isoechoic lesions in the dermis. The main role of
imaging is to differentiate capillary malformations from other malformations which
tend to extend deeper into the tissues, demonstrate flow and may also involve bone.

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Masticator Space

Flow Characteristics
High Flow
Arteriovenous malformation
Hemangioma (proliferative phase)
Carotid body tumor
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
Low Flow
Capillary malformation
Venous malformation
Lymphatic malformation