Table 2.

Differential Imaging Characteristics of Vascular Malformations

	VM	Macro-LM	Micro-LM	AVM
AVM, arteriovenous malformation; LM, lymphatic malformation; VM, venous malformation.
Ultrasound
Architecture	Heterogeneous	Cystic spaces, septations	Heterogeneous	High vessel density, vascular hypertrophy
Echogenicity	Hypoechoic >> hyperechoic > isoechoic	Largely anechoic	Hyperechoic	Variable
Flow	Monophasic >> none > biphasic	None	None	High shunt flow, spectral broadening
MRI
Architecture	Heterogeneous, occasional voids from phleboliths	Large cystic spaces, septations	Heterogeneous	Vascular tangles, flow voids, lack of mass effect
T1 imaging	Isointense or hypointense	Hypo- or isointense	Hypointense	Turbulence, flow voids
T2 imaging	Very hyperintense	Very hyperintense	Very hyperintense	Turbulence, flow voids
Enhancement	Diffuse, hetero- or homogeneous	None	None or minimal	Yes
Flow measurement	Low	None	None	High