The head-tilt test is a simple screening test for a cutaneous vascular tumor involving the head or neck.
Procedure:
(1) The patient is first examined in an upright position and the suspected skin lesion is identified.
(2) The patient's head is then placed so that it is below the level of the heart for 5 to 10 seconds. A tilt table may be used or the patient may sit forward with the head between the knees.
(3) The vascular tumor will appear engorged with a purple or red color.
A skin biopsy is necessary to identify the type of vascular tumor. An angiosarcoma is a malignant vascular tumor that has a positive head-tilt test.
A variant of the test could be done for a skin lesion in an extremity, with the lesion becoming less engorged and whitish if the lesion is placed above the level of the heart.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
