Head and Neck Vascular Anomalies in the Pediatric Population

Vascular anomalies of the head and neck are among the most common abnormalities in the pediatric population. The inherent conspicuity of these often pigmented lesions can be alarming for parents, and while generally benign, they can provide a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Numerous colloquial terms have been used to describe vascular anomalies on the basis of clinical appearance or histopathology. Despite an international consensus on nomenclature to describe these lesions, published in the early 1990s, inconsistent and incorrect usage of these terms continues to this day, potentially leading to inappropriate clinical management. Many imaging modalities have been used for diagnosis, but ultrasonography and MR imaging appear to be the most valuable, and vascular/interventional radiology has a clear role in the diagnosis and treatment of many lesions. The aim of this review is the following: 1) to describe the internationally accepted classification system designed to categorize vascular anomalies, 2) to discuss the clinical features and management of these lesions, and 3) to describe the classic imaging features that allow differentiation of various vascular anomalies of the pediatric population.