This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cappabianca, S Articles by Colella, G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cappabianca, S Articles by Colella, G

Vascular malformations of the tongue: MRI findings on three cases

¹ Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomorfologiche e Funzionali, Istituto di Scienze Radiologiche, Italy; ² Seconda Università degli studi di Napoli, Dipartimento di Patologia Testa-Collo e di Chirurgia Orale e Maxillo-Facciale e della Comunicazione Audio Verbale, Italy

*Correspondence to: Dr Amerigo Giudice, Via Pozzillo, 84036 – Sala Consilina (SA), Italy; Email: amerigogiudice{at}hotmail.com

Received 29 December 2003; revised 13 June 2005; accepted 7 July 2005

Vascular malformations are common lesions accounting for approximately 7% of all benign tumours, the majority of which develop in the head and neck region. Generally, vascular malformations such as lymphangiomas, haemangiomas, and arteriovenous communications in the head and the neck represent only an aesthetic problem. However, when localized in the tongue, these lesions can create clinical problems consisting, in the majority of cases, in spontaneous haemorrhage from the mouth. Although uncommon, progressive asymmetric growth of the tongue (macroglossia) can be also observed. Three consecutive cases of vascular malformations of the tongue have been studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Neither contrast medium administration nor angio-MR technique was used. In our experience, MR appears to be the ideal technique to define the site, extension and origin of vascular malformations, due to its ability to depict the typical signal flow voids in the lesions and to differentiate slow-flow lesions from high-flow ones.

Keywords: tongue; vascular malformation-tongue; MRI-vascular anomalies; MRI