Immature angiomas: the importance of the Doppler exam in diagnosis and prognosis

Immature angiomas are vascular hamartomatous malformations but clearly different from all other vascular, capillary, venous, arteriovenous, and lymphatic malformations, which, normally present at birth and established from a cellular viewpoint, grow because of the effect of hemodynamic stimuli and present no tendency toward spontaneous regression. The difference between immature angiomas and other hemangiomas has been demonstrated by investigations into cell dynamics. To facilitate a differentiated diagnosis and prognosis, the hemodynamics of the angiomas were studied with the Doppler flowmeter. The use of noninvasive techniques, such as those introduced by the Doppler flowmeter, permit a technical alternative and/or integration, giving results of equal relevance and importance, as well as the advantages of a more accessible and less expensive methodology.