Laser Photocoagulation of Tongue Hemangioma: Case Report

Abstract

This report describes two cases of tongue hemangioma and shows the effectiveness of photocoagulation with diode laser. A thirty-five year-old female patient with a tongue hemangioma measuring 20x30 mm was referred. The lesion had been present for 15 months and the patient reported a gradual enlargement with dental trauma. A forty-three year-old female patient had a tongue hemangioma measuring 21x25 mm. The lesion was located on the right lateral side of her tongue and had caused minor discomfort with dental trauma for the previous 8 months. Lesions were surgically photocoagulated with a diode laser applied through a glass microscope slide. The procedures lasted 15 minutes and the patients were discharged on the first postoperative day. Minimal swelling and crusty scarring occured during the first postoperative week. After one month, the operative sites healed without any residual scarring. Patient satisfaction was achieved with minimal morbidity. Lower morbidity, minimal patient discomfort and satisfactory aesthetic results are favorable for the patients. Laser photocoagulation is promising as the treatment of choice for such lesions.

Keywords

• hemangioma
• tongue
• laser
• diode laser
• photocoagulation