Use of Doppler color flow imaging for differential diagnosis of vascular malformations: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE

To ascertain whether Doppler color flow imaging can demonstrate the characteristics of blood flow within vascular lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two cases with vascular malformation in the soft tissues of the maxillofacial region were examined. One was an arteriovenous, high-flow type malformation involving the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the mandible. The other was a venous, low-flow type malformation of the whole tongue. The technique used was the same as that for the extraoral approach in conventional ultrasound imaging.

RESULTS

Doppler color flow imaging provided valuable information on the hemodynamic characteristics of the vascular malformations when comparing with other diagnostic forms of imaging, and clearly differentiated between high- and low-flow vascular lesions.

CONCLUSION

Doppler color flow imaging was suggested to be another method in our armamentarium for differential diagnosis of vascular malformations.