| Abstract: | Radiologic investigations have proved useful in the evaluation of 26 patients with peripheral arteriovenous malformations which are classified as: hemangioma, congenital arteriovenous fistula and venous malformation. Plain film findings of a soft-tissue mass are common in most patients except in the congenital arteriovenous fistula. Calcification in soft-tissue is noted mostly in hemangiomas and venous malformations. The angiographic findings are characteristic. Hemangiomas reveal slightly dilated small vessels arranged in a fine plexiform network, associated with small collections of contrast. Dilated veins, varicosities or clusters of rounded collections of contrast are seen. Congenital arteriovenous malformations show dilated feeding arteries, rapid arteriovenous shunting and dilated draining veins. Venous malformations have normal arteriograms. Venous stenosis with enlarged veins is seen in phleban-giomas; saccular dilatation of veins is noted in venous angiomas or phlebangiomatosis. Characteristic findings of the venous phase of arteriograms and phlebograms are very helpful in differentiating hemangiomas from soft tissue neoplasm. |
