Spontaneous hematoma caused by arteriovenous malformation of the hyoid bone: A case report

Arteriovenous malformations are congenital vascular anomalies in which there is a direct communication between arteries and veins. Extracranial lesions in the head and neck are rare, and may not be detected until adolescence. We present a case of a 14-year-old male who presented with an expanding neck hematoma. After securing the airway, angioembolization was performed, followed by hematoma evacuation and surgical resection of the lesion. Imaging and histologic examination demonstrated an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the hyoid bone. While uncommon, AVMs must be considered in the evaluation of a pediatric neck mass, given the propensity for rapid deterioration.