Diagnosis of Vascular Anomalies

Hematologist/oncologists are often consulted for a vascular anomaly presenting as a mass or with coagulopathy. In addition, some lesions are first identified in the course of evaluation for a thrombotic event. Though the majority of vascular anomalies are not malignant, many are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Accurate diagnosis is important in order to predict clinical course, guide the search for associated features, and choose appropriate therapies. In this chapter we will approach the diagnosis of vascular anomalies from the viewpoint of the consulting hematologist, emphasizing the approach to clinical features which includes age, growth characteristics, physical exam findings, family history, and the diagnostic evaluation. A full discussion of the classification of vascular anomalies is presented in Chap. 1.