Current classification of vascular anomalies of the head and neck

Vascular anomalies of the head and neck comprise a wide spectrum of phenotypically diverse lesions. Optimal diagnosis and management of these lesions are critically dependent upon establishment of uniform and well-defined histopathologic, clinical, and radiological criteria, but these remain subject of debate. In this paper, we describe the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies classification scheme, which was first published in 1996 and updated in 2014. The strength of this proposal rests on its distinction between vascular malformations and tumors, and is responsible for its wide adoption. This paradigm serves as a developing platform for diagnosis, inter-collegial communication, and treatment, and adhering to it will help clinicians to improve the management of vascular anomalies.