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Radiological features of central haemangioma of the jaws

¹ Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; ² Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

*Correspondence to: Prof. Amos Buchner, Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; E-mail: buchner{at}post.tau.ac.il

Received 27 December 2004; revised 11 April 2005; accepted 24 April 2005

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiological and clinical features of central haemangioma of the jaws.

Methods: A total of 86 cases (84 from the English-language literature and two new cases) were studied and critically evaluated with emphasis on the radiological features.

Results: Age at time of initial diagnosis ranged from 0 to 74 years (mean 23 years, median 17 years). There was approximately equal distribution between females and males. The ratio between the mandible and maxilla was 3.3:1. Of the lesions, 69% were located in the posterior region of the jaws. Lesions were radiolucent in 96% of cases. Of the lesions, 66% were multilocular, 33% unilocular, and 1% not loculated. Borders were described in 41 cases, as well defined in 32% and diffuse in 68%. Tooth resorption was described in 23% of the lesions and tooth displacement in 16%, both more common in the mandible. The inferior alveolar nerve canal was involved in 15% of the mandibular lesions and the sinus in 35% of the maxillary lesions.

Conclusions: Central haemangioma has a marked variability in its radiological appearance and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of many unilocular or multilocular radiolucent lesions of the jaws, especially in the mandible. Some radiographic patterns, such as the spoke-like and sunray appearance frequently described in the literature, are actually extremely rare.

Keywords: central haemangioma; radiology; jaws