A Case Report of a Tongue Ulcer as a Rare Presentation of Oral Hemangioma

Abstract

Background Vascular anomalies include a wide range of tumors and malformations (1). Among vascular anomalies, hemangioma is most frequently detected in the head and neck regions (1-3). Hemangioma often refers to congenital hamartomas and vascular disorders. Overall, it is considered as a developmental disorder, which is often identified in the early stages (3). Hemangioma is regarded as the most common type of tumor among children so that it is reported in nearly 5%-10% of children below one year. It is characterized by fast development, proliferation of endothelial cells, and progressive involution (4). In most cases of hemangioma, the head and neck regions are affected, whereas the oral cavity is an uncommon site of occurrence. They may occur at any site or at any age without any variations among different races or genders (3). Hemangioma in the oral region mostly affects the lips, tongue, and buccal mucosa, while the hard and soft palates normally remain unaffected (2, 3). Clinically, hemangioma appears as a soft, smooth or lobulated mass. It is a sessile or pedunculated lesion, which can lead to the formation of ulcers, pain, bleeding, secondary infections, and tissue abnormalities (2, 5). Lesions vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters (4). Histopathologically, hemangioma shows flatted endothelial cells and small capillary size space (4). In this report, we will describe an unusual case of capillary hemangioma of the tongue.