Short Case Report

Difficulties in diagnosing lymphangiomas of the tongue treated with CO₂ laser vaporization

¹ Dentistry and Oral Health Centre, CHU de Bordeaux, France
² Tissue Bioengineer, Unit 1026, Université Bordeaux, France

^* Correspondence: jean-christophe.fricain@inserm.fr

Received: 25 April 2017
Accepted: 24 May 2017

Abstract

Observation: A 44-year-old patient was deferred for consultation for vesicles and whitish papules a few millimeters in diameter on the tongue. Painful inflammatory attacks and phases of mitigation alternated with each other. The clinical test results were all normal. The pathological examination indicated a lymphangiomatous component caused by inflammation. A CO₂ laser treatment was successfully initiated. Regular monitoring revealed no recurrence at the 12-month follow-up. Comments: Cystic lymphangioma is an early-stage benign tumor. Their occurrence in adults is rare. The case presented was atypical by the context and appearance of the lesions. The treatment of cystic lymphangioma in the oral cavity is surgical in nature, which consists of a complete removal of the cysts to avoid recurrences. Other treatments can be proposed: laser, sclerotherapy, ablation, and radiofrequency cauterization. Conclusion: Cystic lymphangioma in adults is rare. The malformations are sometimes difficult to diagnose. There is no evidence-based treatment but laser vaporization is an option for microcystic forms.