Angiography of extremity masses in children.

Arteriography has proved useful in evaluating 24 children with soft tissue extremity masses. In all cases, it was possible to distinguish between benigna and malignant tumors. The five patients with malignant tumors had increased vascularity with coarse irregular vessels and irregular tumor staining. Arteriovenous shunting was present in three of these five. In addition, clinically unsuspected satellite tumors (local metastases) were seen in two patients. Arteriography in 19 patients with benign conditions was characteristic. Benign tumors of non-blood vessel origin (five) showed only arterial displacement but no pathologic circulation. Five hemangiomas and six arteriovenous malformations were easily distinguished; characteristic appearances were present in three patients with miscellaneous benign masses.