title: Cervicofacial venous malformations. MRI features and interventional strategies.
abstract: We retrospectively evaluated 53 consecutive patients with cervicofacial venous malformation who had sclerotherapy. This review included a demographic analysis, MRI reexamination and tabulation of interventional therapeutic strategies. All patients whose MRI studies were included in this review demonstrated characteristic findings: space occupying lesion with hyperintense T2 signal abnormality, patchy contrast enhancement, and no flow signal on the gradient echo images.We concluded that a complete MRI work-up of these patients requires post-contrast scanning and gradient-echo imaging in addition to the standard T1 and T2 weighted spin echo imaging. The majority of patients had sporadic (non-familial) venous anomalies. Sinus pericranii (SP) was identified in six patients (11%) and blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) was found in two patients (4%). MRI findings of sinus pericranii are discussed in detail. Although sodium tetradecyl and/or absolute ethanol are the most commonly used sclerosants, a wide variety of therapeutic strategies (depending on the nature of the abnormality) are also needed for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Konez
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mulliken