MR imaging of cavernous hemangioma of the face and neck

Four patients with cavernous hemangioma of face and neck were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging. Pathologically, soft tissue cavernous hemangiomas are characterized by small feeding arteries and large blood poolings. Arteriography usually fails to demonstrate the extent of the lesion. Computed tomography does not allow differentiation between these lesions and surrounding normal tissues. Magnetic resonance clearly demonstrates hemangiomas with good contrast between lesion and normal tissues. Spin-echo technique with long echo time appears to be particularly useful to delineate these lesions.