Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: progress of diagnostic imaging and vascular therapeutic embolization

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by the presence of epistaxis, vascular telangiectasis in mucosal and cutaneous tissues, with visceral lesions and family history. However, many specialists or radiologists are still in lack of appreciation concerning the full range of consequences in diagnosis and their family relationship resulting the poor recognition of the disease. Understanding the diagnostic imaging and therapeutic measure for HHT will be critical, because of the continuous growth and risk existance of these arteriovenous malformations arousing early diagnosis, proper treatment, adequate follow-up and screening of the family. (authors)