Malformazione arterovenosa del margine linguale somigliante a un'ulcera neoplastica: caso clinico e revisione della letteratura

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study is to describe a rare case of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) developed on the tongue of a patient aged 47 years.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. At 2 years after surgery there was neither clinical nor radiological evidence of recurrence. Diagnosis of AVMs is usually made from anamnesis and examination of the lesions. In this case, a biopsy was performed in order to clarify the nature of a lesion mimicking an oral carcinoma.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The lesion appeared like an ulcerated swelling on the right margin of the tongue. An incisional biopsy was performed to clarify the nature of the lesion, thought to be malignant. No bleeding was noticed during the biopsy. The lesion was diagnosed as an intramuscular AVM. Arteriogram and embolization of the right lingual artery were performed, then the lesion was totally removed under general anaesthesia.