A Case of Intraoral Lymphangioma Circumscripta – A Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Lymphangiomas are developmental malformations which present as benign hamartomas of lymphatic channels. They are commonly located in the head and neck region and are less frequently reported in the oral cavity. However affected sites in the oral cavity include the tongue, palate, gingiva, buccal mucosa, lips and alveolar ridge of the mandible. The most common site in the oral cavity is tongue. Lymphangioma of the buccal mucosa is rare as per the available literature and they usually occur as lobular masses or cystic lesions. Histopathologically, lymphangioma appear as proliferated lymphatic vessels lined by plump endothelial cells. Surgical excision, laser therapy and sclerotherapy are the eventual modes of treatment. This paper reports a rare case of lymphangioma of the buccal mucosa in a 60-year old male patient managed by surgical excision.

Keywords

• alveolar process
• endothelial cells
• gingiva
• hamartoma
• lymphatic vessels