An Unusual Clinical Appearance of Lymphangioma in the Cheek of a 52-Year-Old Female - A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Lymphangioma is a rare developmental hamartomatous malformation of the lymphatic vessels. It usually occurs in the dorsum of the tongue resulting in macroglossia that can interfere with speech and mastication. About 10 % of lymphangiomas can occur in the buccal mucosa resulting in multiple discrete vesicle like structures resembling frogs-egg or pebbly surface or Tapioca pudding like appearance containing clear proteinaceous rich fluid. They also can appear reddish or reddish - purple coloured pebbly surface and are completely asymptomatic. In due course can result in painless, asymptomatic soft tissue swelling on the face resulting in facial disfigurement. Such a rare occurrence of lymphangioma reported in the cheek of a 52-year-old female and treated by ultrasonographic guided Bleomycin sclerotherapy is discussed here. A lymphangioma is a misnomer as it is not a tumour of lymphatic vessels. It is a developmental hamartomatous malformation of the lymphatic vessels that usually clinically becomes more apparent only after second year of age. Clinically they appear as painless soft swellings of the face resulting in facial asymmetry. Patients affected by lymphangioma usually report to the physician or a dentist and complain only of cosmetic defect.1

Lymphangioma of the Lower Lip—A Diagnostic Dilemma: Report of a Rare Case with a Brief Literature Review

“…Senthilnathan et al treated a soft tissue lymphangioma by ultrasonographic-guided bleomycin sclerotherapy. Intralesional bleomycin not only damages the endothelial lining of the lymphangioma but also stimulates the diffusion of the chemical into the cystic spaces, thus, causing thrombosis and fibrosis around the vascular spaces [ 39 ].…”