Arterial spin-labeled perfusion for vascular anomalies in the pediatric head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: To study the arterial spin-labeled (ASL) imaging features of vascular anomalies in the head and neck.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presence or absence of ASL signal was evaluated for each vascular anomaly, and a comparison with conventional magnetic resonance (MR) sequences was performed.

RESULTS: Twenty-five children were identified with vascular anomalies. All proliferating infantile hemangiomas demonstrated hyperintense ASL signal. There were eight cases that ASL imaging provided additional information when compared with conventional MR sequences, including increased lesion conspicuity and altered perfusion.

CONCLUSIONS: ASL imaging of cutaneous vascular anomalies shows specific signal intensity patterns and can provide additional value when compared to conventional MR sequences.