Vascular anomalies in maxillofacial region—Review

Vascular tumors in the maxillofacial region are more frequently encountered in both youngest and oldest ages. For centuries, a myriad of cutaneous or visceral masses, pigmentations, or spaces that resulted in a predominantly disturbed vascular morphologic pattern were named and categorized according to appearance, location, fluid content, and often inconsistent or unpredictable clinical behavior. These vascular lesions localized especially on exposed sites affect the physiognomic aspect and may cause significant psychological distress. Advancements in the knowledge of pathogenesis of such vascular malformations are continuously changing their treatment protocols. In this review we seek to draw attention to the current classification, terminology, development, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of congenital vascular anomalies affecting the maxillofacial region.