Because of the fact that vascular malformations are rare and because of the precision required to treat them, our interventional radiologists work within the Vascular Anomalies Center to offer patients individualized treatment plans. Dr Simit Vora Top Vascular Surgeon in Borivali

What is a vascular malformation?

Vascular malformation is a general term that includes congenital vascular anomalies of only veins, only lymph vessels, both veins and lymph vessels, or both arteries and veins.

• Only veins: venous malformation (VM)
• Only lymph vessels: lymphatic malformations (LM)
• Both veins and lymph vessels: venolymphatic malformations (VLM)
• Arteries connected directly to veins without any capillaries in between: arteriovenous malformation (AVM)

Why do these vascular malformations occur?

These are all present at birth and become apparent at different ages. We are just beginning to understand how malformations occur. The pulmonary arteriovenous malformation, when associated with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), is inherited genetically. There is currently much work being done on the possible genetics of other malformations. Most are only known as something that occurs during development of the arteries, veins, and/or lymph vessels, but without specific cause. Dr Simit Vora Top Vascular Surgeon in Borivali

What are the symptoms of a vascular malformation?

These vascular malformations can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the location in the body:

Venous malformation may cause pain where ever they are located. Venous and lymphatic malformations may cause a lump under the skin. There may be an overlying birthmark on the skin. Bleeding or lymph fluid leaking may occur from skin lesions. Lymphatic malformations tend to become infected, requiring repeated antibiotic treatments. Venous and lymphatic malformations may be associated with a syndrome called Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. Dr Simit Vora Top Vascular Surgeon in Borivali

Arteriovenous malformations may cause pain. They are also more stressful on the heart because of the rapid shunting of blood from arteries to veins. Depending on their location, they may also result in bleeding (for example from the bowels, from the uterus or from the bladder).

Hemangioma is another common term used for vascular anomalies. However, this name actually applies to a childhood vascular anomaly that has a rapid growth phase between birth and 3 months of age. These will resolve completely by age 7. The major reason for us to treat these is for low platelets that do not respond to medical treatment, or in the liver because of massive shunting with a strain on the heart. Dr Simit Vora Top Vascular Surgeon in Borivali