Rare case of intramasseteric cavernous hemangioma in a three-year-old boy: a diagnostic dilemma

Intramuscular hemangiomas are rare, benign tumors of vascular origin. The masseter is the muscle most commonly involved in the head and neck region. Because of their infrequency, deep location, and unfamiliar presentation, these lesions are seldom correctly diagnosed clinically. This case report presents a severe facial asymmetry caused by a left intramasseteric cavernous hemangioma in a 3-year-old boy. We were unaware of the exact nature of the tumor until intraoperative examination. The routine investigations performed before operation failed to establish a diagnosis. Surgical excision was performed, and 1 year after the operation we observed that the patient's facial asymmetry had been corrected. In this article, we review the literature on intramasseteric hemangioma, discuss the clinical and radiologic diagnostic methods, and review the treatment methods.