Dr. Rohit Gupta | Swasthyam Hospital
VASCULAR MALFORMATION
Vascular Malformation
Vascular malformations are rare with some types found in less than 1 percent of the population. If you have one, chances are it developed before you were born—many types of vascular malformations don’t cause symptoms until they are triggered by such events as adolescence, pregnancy, or some major surgery, trauma or injury.
Vascular malformations are a result of the abnormal growth and development of a single type of vessel or a combination of vessels. Over the years, malformations can grow larger and become problematic depending on what type(s) of vessel is involved. They can be harmless and minor or very serious, sometimes even life-threatening.
Symptoms
- Severe headache.
- Weakness, numbness or paralysis.
- Vision loss.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Confusion or inability to understand others.
- Severe unsteadiness.
Treatment
Many vascular anomalies are very complex, so we take a collaborative approach to diagnosis and treatment, working with specialists in pediatrics, pediatric orthopedics, plastic surgery, and endovascular surgery. We use magnetic resonance imaging, to pinpoint malformations deep in the body.
The most common techniques are:
- Embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that closes the abnormal blood vessels from the inside using “glues” or particles. Sometimes we need to surgically remove the malformation or treat it with radiosurgery, a type of radiation. In these cases, we start with embolization, to shrink the malformation and reduce the risk of bleeding.
- Laser treatment can be effective for treating superficial venous malformations or the superficial component of a deep lesion. We use lasers that can reduce the bluish discoloration of the lining of the lip and mouth and the skin.
- Surgery can be appropriate alone or after embolization or sclerotherapy. If the condition is extensive, we take only enough tissue to prevent recurrence, but avoid disfigurement.