A case of voluminous tongue hemangioma treated with intralesional photocoagulation using a KTP laser

ObjectiveThis report presents a case of voluminous tongue hemangioma in which a remarkable reduction was achieved by treatment with intralesional photocoagulation (ILP) using a potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser.BackgroundTongue hemangioma is one of the vascular lesions which can be often found in the head and neck region, and can cause the serious clinical problems, such as recurrent hemorrhage or functional difficulties. In particular, the treatment of this voluminous lesion is difficult to treat without cicatrization or dysfunction at present.MethodsA 75-year-old female was referred for evaluation of a tumor that presented as a bluish coloration on the dorsum of right tongue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the mass, estimated to be 40 mm × 25 mm × 30 mm in size, on the right side of the tongue. The lesion was clinically diagnosed as a hemangioma, and the selected treatment was the ILP method using a KTP laser together with embolotherapy.ResultsThe lesion showed marked regression after treatment, and re-growth of the tumor has not been observed for the past 3 years.ConclusionILP therapy using a KTP laser was effective in the treatment of a large tongue hemangioma, with prevention of cicatrization and dysfunction.