Venous malformations: MR imaging features that predict skin burns after percutaneous alcohol embolization procedures.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the value of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for predicting the occurrence of skin burns in patients with venous malformations who undergo percutaneous alcohol embolization was the objective of the study.


METHODS
Pre-procedural MR imaging at 1.5 T from 40 patients with venous malformations who had undergone percutaneous alcohol embolization was retrospectively reviewed by two observers for these features: anatomic location, definition (well-defined or ill-defined), and the presence of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, tendon, bone, joint, and deep venous system involvement. One observer recorded the length of skin involvement and volume of the malformation. Univariate and multivariate analysis tests were used to determine whether an association between the occurrence of skin burns and MR imaging features existed.


RESULTS
The anatomic locations of the venous malformations were the lower extremity (20 out of 40), upper extremity (11 out of 40), trunk (four out of 40), head/neck (three out of 40) and pelvis (two out of 40). Of the 40 subjects, 15% (six out of 40) experienced skin burns. There was a significant association between the absence of muscle involvement (p = 0.0198) as well as the length of skin involvement (p = 0.027), with the occurrence of skin burns. Malformation size and all other features were not significantly associated with skin burns.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin burns in patients with venous malformations treated with alcohol embolization are associated with the length of skin involvement and with the absence of deeper tissue involvement, as depicted on MR imaging.
Fayad
Laura M
LM
The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 601 N. Caroline Street, JHOC 5255, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. lfayad1@jhmi.edu
Hazirolan
Tuncay
T
Carrino
John A
JA
Bluemke
David A
DA
Mitchell
Sally
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000628:therapy; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D000431:Ethanol