The hemangioma is a common benign tumor characterized by the proliferation of blood vessels. The majority of authors believe that the lesion is not a true benign neoplasm, but rather a developmental anomaly or hamartoma. In oral cavity, the most common sites for occurrence are the lips, tongue, buccal mucosa and palate. A total of 26 cases reported as hemangioma of the oral cavity in the Second Department of Oral Surgery, Kyushu Dental College Hospital, during the period from 1978 to 1982, were clinically analysed. The following results were obtained. 1) A series of 26 cases of hemangioma has been reported. Its incidence was seen in 0.35% of outpatients and in 21.31% of the patients with benign tumor of the oral cavity. In this series of 26 cases there were 21 cases (80.77%) of hemangioma and 5 cases (19.23%) of angiokeratoma. 2) The hemangioma in the majority of 21 cases was located on the tongue (42.9%) but occurred with lesser frequency on the lip (18.5%), the gingiva (4.8%). All the angiokeratoma was located on the tongue. 3) Of the hemangioma (21 cases), 20 cases (95.2%) were over 40 years of age (the average 55.5 years). Of the angiokeratoma (5 cases), 4 cases (80%) were under 19 years of age (the average 18.9 years). 4) As to the incidence by sex, the incidence of hemangioma (21 cases) was slightly higher in females, i.e., 9 males (42.9%) and 12 females (57.1%). Also in the angiokeratoma (5 cases), the incidence was 3 males (60%) and 2 females (40%). 5) The majority of the hemangioma (21 cases) were under index finger-tip size and the angiokeratoma (5 cases) were larger. 6) Of the 21 cases, 1 case (4.8%) was the hemangioma with phlebolith formation. 7) Of the 21 cases, 14 cases were found to be histopathologically of two types ; 9 cases (64.3%) were the cavaerous hemangioma and 5 cases (35.7%) were the hemangioma simplex. The remainders were interpreted clinically as such because of the characteristic features. Also, the 5 cases were diagnosed histopathologically as the angiokeratoma. 8) Treatment was performed mostly by surgical excision of the lesion.
