Role of ultrasound and colored Doppler examination in the diagnosis and the classification of the superficial soft tissue vascular anomalies

BACKGROUND: Vascular anomalies are congenital lesions of abnormal vascular development, and a primary distinction have to be made between a vascular tumor and a vascular malformation, hemangiomas are considered the commonest vascular tumor, correct diagnosis is imperative for appropriate treatment. In this report, we tried to verify the role of ultrasonography and Doppler examination in the initial diagnosis, the classification of vascular anomalies and in the post-treatment follow-up. RESULTS (MAIN FINDINGS): This report included cases of vascular anomalies who attended the interventional radiology department as well as the vascular anomaly clinic in Abo El-Rish hospitals during the period 2019 through 2021. Data of all patients attending the clinic were prospectively examined. Files of 60 cases with vascular anomalies were available for review. The diagnosis of vascular anomalies was done according to their history and characteristic findings at clinical examination as well as U/S and color Doppler examinations, MRI and angiographic studies were done as needed. A significant female predominance was noticed. A significant predominance in the head and neck region was noticed (60%). Treatment was individualized according to each case; propranolol was chosen as the first line of treatment in IH. Intra-lesional steroids injections were done in hemangiomas, and intra-lesional bleomycin was done in venous and lymphatic malformations, endovascular embolization was done in high flow vascular malformations. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound and color Doppler examination were effective and accurate methods in the diagnosis, the classification of superficial soft tissue vascular anomalies, the detection of early complications and in the follow-up after different treatment methods applied, it was also beneficial in the exclusion of non-vascular lesions.