Inferior alveolar nerve hemangioma

Abstract

A 14-year-old male presented with lower lip numbness and a slowly enlarging mandibular mass. Computed tomography demonstrated an expansile lesion centered in the marrow space of the left mandibular body, extending along the course of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), and expanding the mental foramen. Preoperative diagnosis was consistent with an IAN schwannoma. Surgical planning was performed using PROPLAN CMF software. The lesion was approached via a sagittal split osteotomy and excised en bloc with the IAN. Final pathology demonstrated a capillary hemangioma originating from the inferior alveolar nerve. Based on a detailed PubMed search, this is the first capillary hemangioma of the inferior alveolar nerve reported in the literature. Laryngoscope, 126:2168-2170, 2016.

Common conditions associated with mandibular canal widening: A literature review

“…Hemangiomas are more commonly found in the maxilla, with a female predilection and peak incidence in the second to fifth decades of life 28. Vascular lesions of the mandible account for 3.5% of mandibular tumors 30. Mandibular hemangiomas are often congenital; however, some believe that they originate from the mandibular canal, considering the presence of canal widening in most patients 1828.…”

“…Since the mandibular canal contains nerves and vasculature, its distension might be related to the overgrowth of neural and vascular structures, which apply pressure and lead to expansion of the canal wall 30. Thus, the expanded shape of the canal may reflect the benign or malignant nature of the lesion.…”

Unilaterally Enlarged Mandibular Foramina and Canal Associated With Hyperplastic Lymphatic Tissue of Inferior Alveolar Nerve: Case Report and Short Literature Survey

“…The differential diagnosis of enlarged foramen and canal is manifold and includes lymphoma (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), peripheral nerve sheath tumor (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34), primary sarcoma (35)(36)(37)(38), locally invasive carcinoma of the mucous membranes (39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45), distant metastasis (46,47), osteomyelitis (48), lipoma (49,50), hemangioma (51), idiopathic (52) and iatrogenic (53) bone defects, as well as various syndromes (54)(55)(56). Unilaterally enlarged mental foramen on a radiograph is suspected to indicate an underlying neoplastic process, predominantly tumors arising from lymphatic or nerve sheath cells…”