Vascular Tumors of the
Head and Neck
Russell D. Briggs, M.D.
Faculty Advisor: Anna M. Pou, M.D.
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Department of Otolaryngology
Grand Rounds Presentation
April 2001
Introduction
Many different types of neoplasms
Share common etiology with vascular
system
Benign, malignant, others
Benign Tumors
Vascular Birthmarks
Hemangiomas
Vascular Malformations
Nasopharyngeal angiofibromas
Vascular Birthmarks
History
Vascular Birthmarks
Classification system
Hemangioma vs. malformation
Based on clinical, cellular, biologic factors
Older terms capillary, juvenile,
strawberry, cavernous
Vascular Birthmarks
Classification system
Superficial vs. Deep Hemangiomas
Hemangiomas
Most common tumor of infancy (10%)
Slight female predominance
60% arise in head and neck cosmetic
concerns
Hemangiomas
Clinical presentation for diagnosis
Not seen at birth
Precursor lesion
Proliferative phase
Involution phase
Superficial vs. deep
Complications from Hemangiomas
Occur in 20%
Ulceration
Compression of vital structures
High-output cardiac failure
Bleeding
Kasabach-Merritt syndrome
Laryngeal Hemangiomas
Usually in the
subglottis
Healthy infant with
biphasic stridor
(croup)
Behave similarly
50% with cutaneous
counterpart
Diagnosis of Hemangiomas
History and physical examination
Certain cases radiology
Ultrasound, MRI
Large facial hemangiomas Dandy-Walker
Treatment of Hemangiomas
Why and when to treat?
Normal skin in 50% that involute within 5 years
Other 50%-- 80% substantial deformity
Pros and Cons
Treatment of Hemangiomas
Observation
Serial photography important to document
involution
Regular visits with reassurance
Treatment of Hemangiomas
Systemic steroids
Careful selection criteria
Prednisone 2-4mg/kg for up to 6 weeks
Varied results (30%)
Side effects
Treatment of Hemangiomas
Intralesional steroids
Usually for vision
threatening lesions
Combination of betamethasone and
triamcinolone
Treatment of Hemangiomas
Pulse-dye lasers
Useful for superficial variety
Good for ulcerations/residual cosmesis
Treatment for Hemangiomas
Surgery
Eyelid lesions, bulky
lesions, vermillion
border, nasal tip,
eyebrow
CO2 laser for
subglottis
Treatment of Hemangiomas
Arterial embolization
Radiation therapy
Alpha-2b interferon
Vascular malformations
Capillary, venous, arterial, lymphatic, mixed
By definition present at birth
No proliferative or involution phase
Commensurate growth
Capillary malformations
Older term port-wine stain
Usually in trigeminal distribution
Most isolated anomalies
Sturge-Weber syndrome
Treatment of Capillary Malformations
Cosmetic concealing makeup
Tattooing
Surgical excision (tissue expanders)
Pulse dye-laser
Venous Malformations
Diagnosis is clinical palpation
Treatment dependent on location
(surgery and sclerotherapy)
Lymphatic malformations
Older terms cystic hygroma,
lymphangioma
Can expand with URI
Surgical treatment is mainstay
Picibanil (OK-432)
Arteriovenous malformations
Usually clinically apparent
Embolization and surgical resection
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma
Most common benign tumor of nasopharynx
Older term juvenile nasopharyngeal
angiofibroma, JNA
Presentation: recurrent epistaxis/nasal
congestion, hearing loss, orbital, CN
Arise where sphenoidal process of palatine
bone meets horizontal ala of vomer
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma
Diagnosis is made
by clinical and
radiographic findings
CT/MRI
Biopsy- rarely
indicated
Angiography
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma
Angiography
Histology
Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma
Treatment
Embolization and surgery
Autologous blood/Cell Saver
Approaches
Transnasal endoscopic, lateral rhinotomy/MFD with
medial maxillectomy or LeFort I, transpalatal, facial
translocation/maxillary swing, infratemporal
approaches, craniotomy
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Malignant Vascular Tumors
Angiosarcoma
Extremely rare (50%
in head and neck)
Prognosis on tumor
size, grade, margins
Radiation minimally
effective
Sinonasal tract less
aggressive
Poor survival
Malignant Vascular Tumors
Hemangiopericytoma
Pericytes of Zimmerman
25% in head and neck
Surgical treatment
Grade important on
prognosis
Radiation/chemotherapy
for selected cases
Malignant Vascular Tumors
Kaposis Sarcoma
Viral-induced
Four entities
Classic
Endemic
Immunosuppressed
AIDS-related
Surgery, chemo,
radiation, sclerotherapy
Paragangliomas
Named for anatomic location
Arise in paraganglionic tissue (neural crest)
Type I cells (chief) APUD cells catecholamines
Type II cells (sustentacular)
Clusters together Zellballen
Malignancy is clinical
Carotid paragangliomas
Most common of head and neck (60%)
Multicentric 10%, malignant 10%
Familial (AD) 20% -- more multicentric
Painless mass at SCM, immobile
superior-inferior direction
May produce catecholamines
Carotid paragangliomas
Carotid paragangliomas
Treatment
Surgery
Mortality 8%, >5cm tumors had more
complications
Preop workup key vascular surgeon,
anesthesia
Embolization controversial
Radiation
Vagal paragangliomas
Most commonly at nodose ganglion
Painless mass at angle of mandible
present for many years enlarging may
get Horners, CN XII, hoarseness
More multicentric (25%)
Malignancy (18%)
None produce catecholamines
Vagal paragangliomas
Laryngeal paragangliomas
Usually from superior laryngeal
paraganglia from aryepiglottic fold
Hoarseness and dysphagia common
High rates of malignancy
Wide local excision or partial
laryngectomy
