Challenges in diagnosis and management of palatal hemangioma in an infant: A case report

Neoplastic lesions occurring in the oral and maxillofacial regions during infancy are rare, and there are very few reported cases. We describe a case of hemangioma of the palate in a 2-month-old girl, which, the local clinic was unable to diagnose. The lesion had a well-defined border, and was dark red in color with an 8 x 5 mm ulceration in the center. Computed tomography showed depression of the palatine bone and thickening of the soft tissue in the area comprising the lesion. A biopsy performed under general anesthesia and histopathological investigations led to definitive diagnosis of hemangioma. Since there were no functional or cosmetic complications, and the tumor was solitary with slow growth, it was decided to follow-up the patient with no specific therapeutic intervention. Oral cavities of infants and young children are associated with the growth and development of erupting teeth, permanent tooth embryos, and jawbones; hence, improper follow-up of neoplastic lesions may cause aesthetic and functional complications. Therefore, cases that are difficult to diagnose based on clinical and imaging findings should be carefully considered for a definitive diagnosis based on histopathological examination.

Automated summary

Neoplastic lesions in the oral and maxillofacial regions of infants are rare, and a definitive diagnosis based on histopathological examination should be considered for cases that are difficult to diagnose clinically and radiographically.