Mandibular arteriovenous malformation initially diagnosed as follicular cyst

OBJECTIVES. The authors describe a paradigmatic case of a mandibular arteriovenous malformation (AVM) initially managed as a cyst. Starting from this, a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol for these dangerous diseases is proposed. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The case of a developmental patient affected by an intraosseous mandibular AVM is herein described. An initial wrong diagnosis led to managing the AVM as a cyst and this caused a cataclysmic haemorrhage. Subsequently the arterial feeders were closed and the nidus surgically removed. The pertaining literature is also reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. At a 5-year clinical and radiological follow-up, the patient was free of disease. This paper aims to underline the importance of a proper clinical and radiological diagnosis for a correct management of these potentially dangerous diseases.