Congenital vascular malformations in the hand and forearm.
OBJECTIVE
To review a single-center experience in the management of symptomatic congenital vascular malformations of the hand and forearm with special attention to embolotherapy.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients with vascular malformations referred for arteriography and possible intervention between 1983 and 1998. Arteriography and venography were performed in all patients to differentiate between true high-flow arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and low-flow primary venous malformations (PVM). The clinical and radiological data, procedural results, and follow-up data were retrieved and reviewed.


RESULTS
In a 15-year period, 39 patients (22 men; mean age 22.5 years, range 1-51) had symptomatic vascular lesions diagnosed in the forearm and hand: 21 AVMs, 17 PVMs, and one complex lesion with both AVM and PVM. Thirty-four (87%) lesions were treated with immediate technical success achieved in 31 (91%) cases; 5 (13%) lesions were not amenable to percutaneous treatment. There were no major complications, but 3 embolized AVMs had significant residual flow (81.6% technical success on intention to treat basis). Long-term follow-up ranging to 5 years was available in 26 of the 34 treated patients; the mean symptom-free period was 30 months for the AVM patients and 30.5 months for the PVM group, with an average of 1.5 and 1.2 embolization procedures, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular malformations of the hand and forearm are extremely rare lesions that demand a multidisciplinary approach for optimal diagnosis and management. Microembolotherapy with or without surgery has offered the highest level of safety and success to date.
Sofocleous
C T
CT
Department of Radiology, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark 07013, USA. constant@pol.net
Rosen
R J
RJ
Raskin
K
K
Fioole
B
B
Hofstee
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018376:Cardiovascular Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006228:Hand Deformities, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome