Hemangioma arising from external jugular vein mimicking neck mass

Hemangiomas are common benign tumors which can develop in any part of the body. Despite their common nature, hemangiomas arising from blood vessels are very rare. In this article, we present a very rare case of hemangioma which was originated from external jugular vein. The hemangioma was totally excised after the external jugular vein was ligated from both sides and no complication was observed.     

Kavernöses Hämangiom der Glandula parotis im Erwachsenenalter

Parotid hemangiomas are rare in adults. Whereas both capillary and cavernous hemangiomas are seen in children, only cavernous hemangiomas have thus far been reported in adults. Clinically, cavernous hemangiomas usually present as slowly growing, soft or firm, movable, painless parotid masses. Severe pain and swelling can occur, however, depending on the size of the hemangioma or in particular in the presence of acute hemorrhage or thrombosis. CT and MRI are the diagnostic tools of choice. Prior to surgery, magnetic resonance angiography or intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography should be performed to investigate the vascular supply of the tumor. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for small lesions. Large cavernous hemangiomas usually require superficial or total parotidectomy. Especially in the case of extended lesions, the facial nerve may be difficult to identify and should be monitored intraoperatively.     

Subglottic hemangioma of the larynx treated with steroid therapy

Previous experience with different modes of therapy of subglottic hemangioma have not been entirely satisfactory. Response of hemangiomas in general and specifically subglottic hemangiomas in infants to steroid therapy prompted this mode of therapy in two infants. Because of the possible late complications of radiation therapy to the head and neck area of children, a safer modality might avoid these possible complications. One patient with a biopsy proven cavernous hemangioma was decannulated six months following prednisone therapy. The second case, with histologically proven capillary hemangioma, did not have as great an initial response to steroid therapy. External signs of a Cushingnoid syndrome developed in both cases and improved with no residual effects on tapering doses of medication.     

Primary intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the zygoma: a case report and literature review

Intraosseous hemangiomas are rare. We report the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with a gradually enlarging left zygomatic mass that had caused pain, deformity, and superficial soft-tissue swelling. Computed tomography revealed a well-circumscribed 2.0 × 2.5-cm mass with a ground-glass matrix in the left zygoma. Following surgical excision, the patient's symptoms resolved. Findings on pathologic examination of the excised tissue were consistent with an intraosseous cavernous hemangioma. We describe the features of this rare case, we discuss the pertinent radiologic features and pathophysiology of intraosseous hemangiomas, and we review the available literature.     

Infantile supraglottic hemangioma: a case report

Hemangiomas of the airway are benign vascular lesions that can involve any site from the nares to the tracheobronchial tree. Most of these lesions are seen in the subglottic area in infants. Supraglottic infantile hemangiomas are very rare. We report a case of supraglottic hemangioma in a 2-month-old boy who had been admitted to our hospital with inspiratory stridor and dyspnea. The hemangioma involved the left arytenoid and aryepiglottic fold. A tracheostomy was performed, and the patient was followed up endoscopically every 6 months thereafter The hemangioma disappeared when the child was 30 months old. Subsequently, a Montgomery T-tube was placed for 6 months to assist in maintaining normal breathing. The patient remains disease-free during ongoing follow-up. We also discuss the management strategies for infantile laryngeal hemangiomas.     

Intramuscular hemangioma in the head and neck.

Intramuscular hemangioma is a distinct type of hemangioma occurring within skeletal muscle and making up less than one per cent of all hemangiomas. They occur most often in the trunk and extremities, perhaps beacuse of the larger muscle volume in thos areas. 13.5 per cent of intramuscular hemangiomas do occur in the head and neck region and for this reason they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck masses. The first case of an intramuscular hemangioma of the digastric muscle is presented and confirmed by electron microscopic sections. An interesting finding in this tumor is the proliferation of both endothelial cells and pericytes. Hemangiomas are classified according to vessel size; "large vessel" cavernous, "small vessel" capillary, and "mixed". Various etiologies and modalities of treatment are discussed, and total excision with ligation of the feeding vessels is advocated to prevent the high incidence of later recurrence.     

Cavernous hemangioma of the external ear canal

Cavernous hemangiomas are benign tumors of blood vessel origin. Cavernous hemangiomas arising from the tympanic membrane with or without involvement of the skin of the deep external auditory canal may occur in rare cases. In this paper, the clinical and pathological findings in the first recorded case of a patient with a cavernous hemangioma arising from the skin of the deep external canal with no involvement of the tympanic membrane are presented.     

Arteriovenous hemangioma involving submandibular salivary gland

We present a case of an arteriovenous hemangioma involving the submandibular salivary gland in a 20 year old girl. Hemangiomas in this region are rare. Out of the reported cases most have been cavernous hemangiomas. The rarity of an arteriovenous malformation in the submandibular salivary gland prompted us to report this case.     

Extirpation of a jugular foramen schwannoma via the transcervical-transmandibular approach

Schwannomas of the jugular foramen are rare lesions. We present a case of a schwannoma of the spinal accessory nerve that occurred in the jugular foramen and skull base of a 52-year-old woman. The tumor was completely extirpated via a transcervical-transmandibular approach with an excellent functional result. The approach used afforded excellent exposure of the lateral or midline skull base, as well as maximum control of the major neurovascular structures in the upper neck and skull base.     

Chondrosarcomas of the jugular foramen

Objectives/Hypothesis: Chondrosarcomas of the jugular foramen are extremely rare tumors. Our review of the literature revealed eleven previously reported cases. The aim of this study is to describe the presenting symptoms, radiographic findings, operative procedures, and postoperative outcome of five histologically confirmed cases of chondrosarcomas arising from the jugular foramen. A review of the literature is also presented. Study Design: Retrospective study of an quaternary referral otology and skull base private center. Methods: Five cases of surgically treated and pathologically confirmed jugular foramen chondrosarcomas were identified. The follow‐up of the series ranged from 23 to 42 months (mean, 32.8 ± 7.7 months). Results: A single stage procedure was adopted in all the cases. Two patients underwent type A infratemporal approaches, one patient underwent a transotic approach extending to the neck with ligature of the internal jugular vein, one patient underwent a petro‐occipital transigmoid approach, and one patient underwent a combined petro‐occipital transigmoid–transotic approach. Gross total tumor removal was achieved in all patients. The most common complications were lower cranial nerve deficits. To date, no recurrence or residual tumors have been observed at radiological controls. Conclusions: We believe that the primary treatment for chondrosarcomas of the jugular foramen is gross total surgical resection of the tumor. It is our philosophy to reserve postoperative radiotherapy for patients with histologically aggressive tumors, as well as in cases with subtotal resection and recurrent tumors.     

Hemangioma of the external auditory canal in an adolescent male: Report of a case and review of the literature

Hemangiomas confined exclusively to the external auditory canal (EAC) are rare, with only nine cases being described in the literature. We report a case of a hemangioma causing conductive hearing loss in a 15-year-old male. This is the first case of a hemangioma isolated to the EAC in an adolescent and the first to be described as being of the venous subtype. Imprecise terminology has historically made the diagnosis and classification of these lesions difficult. We use this opportunity to not only shed light upon this unique case, but to briefly compare current classification schemes and review the literature relating to hemangiomas involving the EAC.     

A rare case of jugular foramen schwannoma arising from Jacobson's nerve

The jugular foramen (JF) region is a complex area of the cranial base where venous structures such as the jugular bulb and the inferior petrosal sinuses are strictly related to the lower cranial nerves IX, X and XI. The most common tumours include glomus jugulare, schwannomas of the mixed cranial nerves (IX-XI) and meningiomas. Schwannomas involving the jugular foramen are rare neoplasms and in most of the cases are thought to originate from the X cranial nerve. We report a case of a schwannoma of the JF diagnosed at an early stage, allowing radiological and surgical evidence to support its origin from the tympanic branch of the IX cranial nerve. To our knowledge this is the first case reported in the literature of such a tumour.     

Cavernous hemangioma of the middle turbinate: a case report

Most cavernous hemangiomas present at birth or soon after. Cavernous hemangiomas of the nasal cavity, which are rare, usually do not present until adulthood; their incidence peaks in the fourth decade of life. Most affected patients experience epistaxis or hemoptysis and an enlarging lesion in the nose. Histologically, cavernous hemangiomas appear as closely packed, dilated vascular channels lined with a layer of flattened endothelial cells. We describe the case of a 32-year-old man who was admitted to our clinic with the complaint of a nasal obstruction. On anterior rhinoscopy, he was found to have a hypervascularized and hypertrophied left middle turbinate and septal deviation. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the paranasal sinuses demonstrated a well-defined cystic lesion that had arisen within the bony left middle turbinate and caused deviation of the septum to the right. The lesion was excised via endoscopic surgery with general anesthesia. No complications occurred during the postoperative period. Histologic examination identified the tumor as a cavernous hemangioma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the English-language literature of a cavernous hemangioma appearing as a cystic mass in the middle turbinate.     

Hemangioma of the masseter muscle.

Intramuscular hemangiomas are rare benign tumors of vascular origin. The masseter is the muscle most commonly involved in the head and neck. A case of intramuscular masseter hemangioma is presented, the literature reviewed, and appropriate diagnostic modalities discussed.     

Subglottic hemangioma

Subglottic hemangioma is a rare condition that can be potentially life threatening because of airway obstruction. It is common for subglottic hemangioma to be misdiagnosed as croup initially. Infants with a subglottic hemangioma and cutaneous facial hemangiomas in a "beard" distribution should be evaluated for PHACE syndrome. Endoscopic laser resection is effective for subglottic hemangioma but carries a chance of subglottic stenosis, up to 25%. Open excision of subglottic hemangioma is an excellent option, particularly in patients with bilateral or circumferential subglottic hemangioma. It is a more extensive surgery when compared with endoscopic laser resection. Surgeons who do not have access to a pediatric intensive care unit staffed by experienced pediatric intensivists should not use this procedure.     

Propranolol for the treatment of subglottic hemangiomas

IntroductionInfantile subglottic hemangiomas are rare causes of airway obstruction. They begin to proliferate at 1–2 months of age and can cause biphasic stridor with or without respiratory distress. Diagnosis requires direct visualization by direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. Various therapeutic options have been utilized for treatment, including tracheotomy, open surgical excision, laser ablation, intralesional steroid injection, systemic steroids, and now oral propranolol.MethodsWe present a retrospective chart review of infantile subglottic hemangiomas over a 5-year span (January 2005–2010) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. IRB approval was obtained, and charts were reviewed to find patients with subglottic hemangiomas, including patient characteristics, presentation, workup, medical and surgical management, and outcomes. A case presentation demonstrates diagnostic, management, and treatment strategies and dilemmas encountered.ResultsNine patients were found to have infantile subglottic hemangiomas. Six of nine patients were treated with laser excision, with five of the six having localized subglottic hemangiomas. In 2009, three of four patients were initiated on propranolol as first-line treatment; the fourth had comorbidities which precluded this. Of the three, two showed improvement, while a third, who also had bearded hemangioma, required tracheotomy.DiscussionInfantile subglottic hemangiomas are rare but essential in the differential diagnosis of biphasic stridor. Although propranolol has been effective in treating cutaneous and airway hemangiomas, our experience suggests that this is not consistent for subglottic hemangiomas. In an area where airway compromise can be lethal, we must extend caution and monitor these patients closely as they may require adjuvant therapy.     

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the jugular foramen

We describe what might have been the first reported case of a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the jugular foramen. A 50-year-old woman presented with progressive left-sided sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo, pulsatile tinnitus, headaches, and ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 4-cm left-sided jugular foramen tumor. The patient underwent near-total resection of the tumor. Despite lower cranial nerve preservation, postoperative paralysis of cranial nerves IX and X occurred, and vocal fold medialization was performed 5 days later. The final pathologic diagnosis was neuroendocrine carcinoma. The patient was treated with concurrent chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. This article will discuss the pathologic features and the management of jugular foramen tumors, along with the differential diagnosis of these rare tumors.     

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the mastoid invading the occipital bone

We describe a case of chondromyxoid fibroma of the mastoid bone extending along the occipital bone in a 48-year-old man. The presence of this tumor was heralded solely by aural fullness caused by otitis media with effusion. The tumor arose from the mastoid cavity, eroding the entire petrous portion, and invading the foramen magnum and jugular foramen. The occurrence of this tumor is exceedingly rare, and, to our knowledge, this is only the second article in the literature that describes a chondromyxoid fibroma of the mastoid region. The clinical appearance of this tumor and its light- and electron-microscopic findings are presented with reference to other articles.     

Schwannomas of the parapharyngeal space and jugular foramen

Schwannomas or neurilemmomas are among the most common neoplasms occupying the parapharyngeal space, yet only 107 cases have been previously reported. Neurilemmomas involving the jugular foramen are extremely rare. Only 55 cases have been reported in the world literature. The neoplasm occurred in the parapharyngeal space in three of our patients and in the jugular foramen in another patient. Of the tumors located in the parapharyngeal space, the nerve of origin in one of them was the glossopharyngeal, which is extremely rare. Adequate exposure for complete excision of parapharyngeal space tumors is best obtained through an external incision and should not be attempted transorally. In the jugular foramen case, the neoplasm arose from the vagus nerve high in the neck and extended intracranially in a “dumbbell” shape into the posterior cranial fossa. Total removal was successfully accomplished in one stage, by using a subtotal temporal bone resection — upper neck — posterior cranial fossa approach. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice. Schwannomas rarely recur following complete excision.     

Propranolol for treatment of subglottic hemangioma

Subglottic hemangiomas are extremely dangerous due to its location and rapid growth during the proliferative phase. Many different treatments are described but these methods are still not satisfactory. Recently propranolol has been used as a new option in hemangioma therapy. We describe a case of 6-week infant with subglottic hemangioma discovered direct laryngoscopy, presented with dyspnoea and inspiratory stridor. After oral propranolol administration all baseline airway symptoms had resolved and endoscopic examination demonstrated significant regression of the hemangioma. We suggest that the propranolol should be used as a first-line treatment in subglottic hemangiomas in children.