CEUS also has potential for quantifying perfusion in vascular malformations, which could be helpful in assessing treatment response [17]. CT Extremity CT offers the benefit of high spatial resolution and provides comprehensive anatomic detail in the workup of extremity complaints. For the specific purpose of vascular malformation imaging, CT may reveal a soft-tissue mass with or without phleboliths, as well as provide information about size and lesion extent [12]. Bone involvement and acute complications like hemorrhage can also be assessed with CT [3,6]. Intravenous (IV) Vascular Malformation of the Extremities contrast administration improves lesion delineation and allows for the assessment of enhancement patterns, which may help narrow the differential diagnosis of a focal finding [3]. However, in general, MRI is the preferred imaging modality when evaluating suspected vascular malformations that are due to its greater soft-tissue contrast and ability to obtain dynamic flow information with MR angiography (MRA) [10]. CTA Extremity CTA with IV contrast can be used to evaluate a suspected vascular malformation. It is generally of greater utility for a high-flow lesion, such as an arteriovenous malformation, as CTA is capable of delineating the feeding arteries, nidus, and draining veins, which typically characterize these lesions [10]. CTA may also provide some information in regards to lesion extent and invasion into muscular compartments and bones [10]. However, MRI or MRA is the preferred method for suspected vascular malformation imaging that is due to superior soft-tissue contrast and potential for dynamic blood flow imaging [2,10,18]. MRI Extremity MRI offers superior soft-tissue contrast compared with CT and plays an important role in the workup of suspected vascular malformations and soft-tissue masses. Lesion morphology and internal signal characteristics can be assessed, often allowing for definitive diagnosis [2-4,6,7,9,19].
Clinically Suspected Vascular Malformation of the Extremities. CEUS also has potential for quantifying perfusion in vascular malformations, which could be helpful in assessing treatment response [17]. CT Extremity CT offers the benefit of high spatial resolution and provides comprehensive anatomic detail in the workup of extremity complaints. For the specific purpose of vascular malformation imaging, CT may reveal a soft-tissue mass with or without phleboliths, as well as provide information about size and lesion extent [12]. Bone involvement and acute complications like hemorrhage can also be assessed with CT [3,6]. Intravenous (IV) Vascular Malformation of the Extremities contrast administration improves lesion delineation and allows for the assessment of enhancement patterns, which may help narrow the differential diagnosis of a focal finding [3]. However, in general, MRI is the preferred imaging modality when evaluating suspected vascular malformations that are due to its greater soft-tissue contrast and ability to obtain dynamic flow information with MR angiography (MRA) [10]. CTA Extremity CTA with IV contrast can be used to evaluate a suspected vascular malformation. It is generally of greater utility for a high-flow lesion, such as an arteriovenous malformation, as CTA is capable of delineating the feeding arteries, nidus, and draining veins, which typically characterize these lesions [10]. CTA may also provide some information in regards to lesion extent and invasion into muscular compartments and bones [10]. However, MRI or MRA is the preferred method for suspected vascular malformation imaging that is due to superior soft-tissue contrast and potential for dynamic blood flow imaging [2,10,18]. MRI Extremity MRI offers superior soft-tissue contrast compared with CT and plays an important role in the workup of suspected vascular malformations and soft-tissue masses. Lesion morphology and internal signal characteristics can be assessed, often allowing for definitive diagnosis [2-4,6,7,9,19].