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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
A Patient-Derived Xenograft Model for Venous Malformation
Published on: June 15, 2020
Histopathological reporting of paediatric cutaneous vascular anomalies in relation to proposed multidisciplinary
M Al-Adnani1, S Williams, D Rampling
1Department of Paediatric Histopathology, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.
Background:
The terminology applied to vascular anomalies has been variable in previously published literature making interpretation suboptimal. The International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) has proposed a revised classification based on clinical features and histopathological findings. This classification is increasingly being accepted as clinically useful and a platform for future studies.
Aims:
To examine the extent to which the ISSVA classification can be practically applied to diagnostic histopathological specimens.
Methods:
Cutaneous vascular lesions received in a single paediatric pathology unit during a 2-year period (2004-5) were reviewed, including glucose transporter protein 1 (GLUT1) immunostaining where required, and lesions were reclassified according to the ISSVA classification.
Results:
144 specimens were identified. Appropriate full clinical information was provided in only 17% of cases at submission. Infantile haemangiomas comprised 46% of cases, 18% of which were regressive type, initially inaccurately identified as vascular malformations before GLUT1 immunostaining. 30% of lymphatic malformations and all lymphovenous malformations were previously classified as vascular malformations, not otherwise specified.
Conclusions:
The ISSVA classification of vascular anomalies provides a useful framework for histopathologists to classify vascular anomalies. However, meaningful and appropriate use of such a system is dependent on the adequacy of clinical information provided and routine use of immunohistochemical markers.
