Arteriovenous Malformation: An Unusual Reason for Foot Pain in Children

ascular anomalies are classified into two main types: vascular malformations and benign vascular endothelium tumors. Vascular malformations (e.g. venous, arteriovenous and capillary malformations) are congenital abnormalities with manifestation during childhood or adolescence due to various stimuli (e.g. trauma, hormonal changes). They arise from defects in vascular tissue during embryonic development. Spontaneous regression of these anomalies is rare. Vascular tumours (e.g. haemangioma, Gorham-Stout-disease) are characterized by cellular hyperplasia and the expression of growth factors but they can also spontaneously become involuted. “High” and “lowflow” malformations can be differentiated by their haemodynamic characteristics and the vascular architecture.