Lingual lymphangioma in the child

Abstract

Introduction: lymphangiomas are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system whose cause is unknown. Although the most frequent locations are the cervicofacial and axillary regions, the microcystic lymphangiomas usually appear in the tongue.

Objective: to present a case of lingual lymphangioma in a child, of interest for being a rare malformation and requiring timely treatment to avoid invasive interventions.

Case presentation: male patient of five years of age who presented bleeding and increased tongue volume, so he was admitted. In the physical examination the swollen tongue was observed in its two thirds previous, with desquamative lesions on the dorsum and the edges, painful on palpation and slightly black-blue coloration. In the microscopic examination, lymphatic spaces lined with epithelium, absence of blood cells, scarce stroma and endothelial cells were detected, coating the lymphatic lakes communicating with each other. Lingual lymphangioma was diagnosed.

Discussion: lingual lymphangiomas are infrequent. However, they must be taken into account as one of the causes of obstruction of the upper airway, so they are included as differential diagnosis along with the lingual thyroid, thyroglossal and dermoid cysts, lymphangiomas, angiomas, adenomas, fibroids, papillomas and lymphomas.

Conclusions: lingual lymphangioma treatment options include the use of sclerosing agents associated with the application of compression bandaging, and occasionally surgical intervention. In this case, the early hospitalization and the timely treatment of the patient influenced its favorable evolution, without needing to resort to the surgical option