A case of spindle cell hemangioma of the upper lip

Abstract

Spindle cell hemangioma (SCH) is a rare benign vascular neoplasm. Its occurrence is infrequently in the oral cavity and can be mistaken for other common oral lesions such as mucocysts and fibroma. Microscopically it mimics some malignant vascular tumors and could be misdiagnosed. We report a case of SCH in the upper lip of a 49-year-old woman. The mass was diagnosed as a benign tumor and resected under local anesthesia. Histopathological findings showed dense proliferation of short spindle cells, dilated capillaries, and collagen fibers at the margin. The tumor was positive for the human erythroblast transformation-specific related gene. Thus, considering the clinical and pathological findings, a diagnosis of SCH was made. Three years have passed since the operation, and no recurrence has been observed. Our findings indicate that although SCH in the oral cavity is rare, it must be considered during the differential diagnosis of a benign lip lesion.

Keywords

• Oral cavity
• Benign tumor
• Benign vascular neoplasm
• Mistaken diagnosis
• Human erythroblast transformation-specific related gene
• Upper lip mass