Vascular malformation is a general term that includes congenital vascular anomalies of only veins, only lymph vessels, both veins and lymph vessels, or both arteries and veins.
Venous malformation (VM)
Veins are part of the circulatory system that moves blood through the body. Veins carry blood from the body back to the heart. The heart pumps the blood through the lungs so that it can pick up oxygen. The body uses oxygen to make energy. Venous malformations (VMs) occur when veins do not form normally. VMs can be completely isolated from normal veins or can drain into them. VMs are not part of the normal vein system.
Lymphatic malformation (LM)
is a relatively uncommon vascular malformation that can occur anywhere on the body. It is most commonly on the head and neck.
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system that protects the body from infection. When we get sick, our immune system fights germs in our bodies to make us healthy again. Just as blood is carried in arteries and veins, lymph travels in our bodies in lymph vessels. The white blood cells in lymph help to fight infection and disease. Lymph vessels are tubes in the body that carry lymph from small bean-shaped glands called lymph nodes to the blood stream. Lymph nodes are found throughout the body and help to filter lymph to remove viruses and bacteria. An LM occurs when lymph vessels form abnormally.