Treatment of facial vascular malformations with embolisation and surgical resection.

INTRODUCTION: Facial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are quite rare morbid conditions that clinically present themselves mainly as a massive bleeding or a significant aesthetic defect. Vascular malformations do not regress spontaneously; this is the reason why their resection is necessary. The successful treatment of these vascular anomalies is often compromised, since a high incidence of recurrence could be expected if the lesion is not managed properly. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for the assessment and treatment of these lesions. The therapeutic management involves a preoperative superselective embolisation, a surgical resection of the lesion within the following 24 hours and finally an aesthetic reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on a total of 62 patients with facial AVMs; all the patients underwent surgical procedures from 2000 to 2010.
RESULTS: The case series consisted of 8 patients with haemangiomas and 54 patients with AVMs; in 31 cases of the latter group the vascular malformations showed a low blood flow, whereas the remaining 23 cases had a high blood flow. The lips were the most common localization. All 54 patients with AVMs underwent a surgical resection. Among the 23 patients with facial high-blood flow AVM, 21.7% were classified as stage I Schobinger, 47.9% as stage II, and 30.4% as stage III. The treatment consisting of associated embolisation and resection was performed in 14 arteriovenous malformations (stage II, III) with high blood flow; 5 of them required a flap reconstruction.
CONCLUSION: Recent advances in microsurgery and interventional angioradiology have improved the prognosis of treatment for these malformations. Combining embolisation and resection with aesthetic flap reconstruction represents the therapy of choice for facial arteriovenous malformations, as it prevents their recurrence.