Vascular Malformations

Also known as: port wine stains, venous malformations, lymphatic malformations, arteriovenous malformations

What are vascular malformations?

A vascular malformation is an abnormality where clusters of blood vessels develop during fetal development. There are a number of subtypes including:

• “port wine stains” (capillaries)
• venous malformations
• lymphatic malformations
• arteriovenous malformations
• and mixed vessel conditions.

What causes vascular malformation?

While they can be sporadic, vascular malformations may be a result of an inherited gene abnormality.

What are the symptoms of vascular malformations?

They often cause blemishes or masses on the body, but can present incidentally with headaches or seizures if located in the brain. To diagnose a vascular malformation, our physicians use ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or computed tomography (CT) scans.

What are the treatments for vascular malformations?

Treatments vary depending on the condition’s clinical presentation. While some patients may need surgery, others can be treated with interventional radiology. Each patient and malformation is unique, so our team will analyze your child’s situation to determine the correct treatment.

Reviewed by: Anthony F. Rossi, MD

This page was last updated on: September 16, 2025 12:08 PM