Hemangioma of the Mandible in a 12-Year-Old Boy

Abstract

Intraosseous hemangioma is a benign, rare neoplasm that accounts to 0.5 - 1% of all benign tumors of bones.^{1, 2} While most hemangiomas arise from soft tissues, it is uncommon for it to arise from bones.² The most common sites of growth are in the vertebral body and the calvarium with frontal bone making up approximately 45% of calvarial cases.^2,3 However, they are also encountered in the head and neck with sites such as the skull (53%), mandible (10.7%), nasal bones (9%), and cervical spine (6%).⁴ In the mandible, the body is mostly affected and 65% are found in the molar and premolar region.1 They are more common in adult females with peaks at the second and fifth decades of life.^1-3

Hemangioma of the mandible is difficult to diagnose due to its nonspecific clinical presentation and radiographic features. It mimics various mass lesions in the mandible such as giant cell granuloma, fibrous dysplasia, multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma, ameloblastoma and keratocysts. Therefore, a comprehensive history taking and physical examination plus examination of the imaging studies available and tissue biopsy all play important roles in arriving at the final diagnosis.⁵

We present the case of an aggressive mandibular hemangioma in a young boy and our management involving a failed fibular free flap reconstruction.