During the last 8 years between 1983 and 1991, we experienced 46 cases of vascular lesions of the oral and maxillofacial region at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ehime University Hospital. Thirty-six cases, which were easily diagnosed as capillary or cavernous hemangioma from clinical findings, were treated by vaporization or excisional surgery by CO2 laser without digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and intravenous radionuclide arteriography (IRA).
The remaining 10 cases were examined by DSA, 8 of these cases also underwent IRA. In DSA, as compared with the conventional film screeen methods, stress was less and resolution of the vascular system higher. Hemodynamics were assessed in detail by IRA. Therefore, diagnostic accuracy was improved. Five cases were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) after examination by DSA and/or IRA. Treatment was successful in every case without severe complications. DSA, IRA and TAE were evaluated to be useful and safe for the management of oral and maxillofacial vascular lesions.
