Current Study of Vascular Anomalies
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (24 February 2023) | Viewed by 6230
Special Issue Editor
Interests: newborn surgery; minimal invasive surgery; pediatric trauma; pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery; pediatric abdominal surgery;and pediatric thoracic surgery
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The term vascular anomalies (VA) applies for all pathologic conditions involving vascular tissues. Therefore, VA comprise an extremely large number of different pathologies, with highly variable pathophysiology and genetic backgrounds, and highly variable treatment methods and prognosis.
Over the last few decades, the International Society for Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) has developed a classification system for VA, which is based on two distinct disease entities: 1) vascular tumors (VT) and 2) vascular malformations (VAMS). Despite the clear division between these two entities, there are still VA, which can neither be classified under VT nor under VAMS.
In the last decade, multiple somatic mutations have been discovered in affected tissues of patients with VA. Intracellular signaling pathways involving RAS/MAPK/ERK and PIK3CA are the two main pathways with recognized mutations leading to overexpression of proteins triggering cell proliferation in VA. This knowledge has led to changes in treatment strategies, which are increasingly based on the genetic background of VA.
The most important step in the management of patients with VA is establishing the correct diagnosis, as this entails the potential treatment options and prognosis. VA can be managed by various destructive methods, such as surgery, sclerotherapy, embolization, lasers, and others. Furthermore, VA can be treated by the administration of various drugs, such as propranolol, steroids, sirolimus, and many others, a number of which are currently emerging. Finally, there are some varieties of VA which do not need any treatment as their lifecycle is limited and simple clinical observation is sufficient.
On the other hand, complex VA are defined as VA which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality because all presently available treatment options are either ineffective in the aim to control the progression of the disease, or the disease itself, despite the visible effect of the introduced treatment, is still posing an overwhelming burden on the patient. Complex VA causes severe functional impairment, disfigurement and chronic pain, which not only poses a burden on the patients but also on their families. Established treatment methods are seldom curative, patients and their families are exposed to potential life-long treatment, and their hopes are directed towards new therapeutic modalities.
This Special Issue dedicated to patients with complex VA is welcoming original manuscripts describing various aspects of the management of patients with complex VA, both vascular tumors, and vascular malformations.
Dr. Emir Q. Haxhija
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- vascular anomalies
- treatment
- imaging
- follow-up
- genetics
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