Cavernous Haemangioma of the Tongue - A Rare Case Report

Vascular anomalies include a wide range of tumours & malformations. Among vascular anomalies, haemangioma is the most common. Haemangioma is considered as a hamartomatous lesion, & half of these have a predilection for the head & neck region but are rarely seen in the oral cavity. Haemangiomas are developmental vascular abnormalities. They are considered hamartomas rather than true neoplasms. More than 50 % of these lesions occur in the head & neck region mainly in the face, lips & oral mucosa. The tongue is rarely involved. We are reporting the case of haemangioma of the tongue of a male child, discussing the diagnostic aspects & treatment modalities of such a lesion & emphasizing the role of CECT and Doppler Angiography especially in our case & the short-term management in case of a complication such as in our case. The diagnosis of haemangioma of the tongue can be a little tricky as it sometimes does not present as a bluish lesion or a typical vascular swelling, so taking a biopsy in such cases may land up into complications such as tongue bite resulting in swelling of the tongue. A Colour Doppler Ultrasonography is an ideal first investigation in such cases but often not a very feasible option for the patients. Hemangioma (Greek: Haima-blood; angeion-vessel; oma-tumour) is defined as a tumour of the dilated blood vessels. They are the most common vascular tumours of infancy & childhood.1,2 Haemangiomas are of 2 types – capillary & cavernous. They appear in the first month of life & are characterized by a rapid proliferative phase & slow involution, to near spontaneous resolution. Nearly 60-70 % of the lesions are found in the head & neck.3 Haemangiomas can also be described according to the vessel involved or flow type like arterial or arteriovenous type (high flow) or capillary or venous type (slow flow).4 We report a rare case of cavernous haemangioma of the tongue of a 3-year-old boy followed by a tongue bite.