Prevalence of oral hemangioma, vascular malformation and varix in a Brazilian population

• Published in: Brazilian oral research Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 40 - 45
• Main Authors: Corrêa, Priscila Henriques, Nunes, Lara Cristina Caldeira, Johann, Aline Cristina Batista Rodrigues, Aguiar, Maria Cássia Ferreira de, Gomez, Ricardo Santiago, Mesquita, Ricardo Alves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica - SBPqO 01.03.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arteriovenous Malformations - epidemiology; Arteriovenous Malformations - pathology; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Dentistry; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Female; Hemangioma - classification; Hemangioma - epidemiology; Hemangioma - pathology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa - blood supply; Mouth Neoplasms - classification; Mouth Neoplasms - epidemiology; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Varicose Veins - epidemiology; Varicose Veins - pathology; Brazil; Hemangioma; Mouth mucosa; Blood vessels; Vasos sangüíneos; Peripheral vascular diseases; Doenças vasculares periféricas; Mucosa bucal
• ISSN: 1806-8324; 1807-3107; 1806-8324
• DOI: 10.1590/s1806-83242007000100007

Hemangioma, vascular malformation and varix are benign vascular lesions, common in the head and neck regions. Studies about the prevalence of these lesions in the oral cavity are scarce. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and to obtain clinical data on oral hemangioma, vascular malformation and varix in a Brazilian population. Clinical data on those lesions were retrieved from the clinical forms from the files of the Oral Diagnosis Service, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 1992 to 2002. Descriptive analysis was performed. A total of 2,419 clinical forms in the 10-year period were evaluated, of which 154 (6.4%) cases were categorized as oral hemangioma, oral vascular malformation or oral varix. Oral varix was the most frequent lesion (65.6%). Females had more oral hemangioma and oral varix than males. Oral vascular malformation and oral varix were more prevalent in the 7th and 6th decades, respectively. Oral hemangioma and oral varix were more prevalent in the ventral surface of the tongue and oral vascular malformation, in the lips. Oral hemangioma was treated with sclerotherapy (54.5%), and vascular malformation was managed with sclerotherapy and surgery (19.4% each). The data of this study suggests that benign vascular lesions are unusual alterations on the oral mucosa and jaws.