Vascular anomalies in childhood. Review and update

Vascular anomalies are changes in vascularization that usually appear in the foetal stage, at birth or in early childhood. They can cause chronic pain, motor impairment, cosmetic changes or coagulopathy and may be fatal in some cases, but in every case they have a negative impact on the quality of life of the child and the family. Up to 150 different subtypes have been described. They can involve arteries, capillaries, veins, lymphatic vessels or a combination thereof. They may be associated with additional malformations and frequently cause musculoskeletal and soft tissue hypertrophy or hypotrophy. They can develop anywhere in the body, invade any tissue and affect the function of various organs. The prevalence of the different subtypes varies greatly, from 1/20 to 1/1 000 000. Subtypes considered rare diseases (incidence <1/2000) continue to affect more than 500 000 people in the European Union.

Differentiating between vascular tumours and vascular malformations is critical, especially in paediatric patients. They are completely different diseases, although they are often grouped under the umbrella term of vascular anomalies.

The diagnostic algorithm used in the clinical evaluation of vascular anomalies should be based on a thorough history-taking and detailed physical examination.

Future knowledge in this field will be based above all on genetic findings and therapeutic innovations. New molecules and their indications are being explored with the aim of reducing the aggressiveness of previous treatments and increasing the life expectancy and quality of life of patients who do not respond to conventional treatments.