Incidentally Detected Asymptomatic Epiglottic Capillary Hemangioma in a 66-Year-Old Female: A Case Report

TL;DR

A rare case of an asymptomatic epiglottic hemangioma in an adult was discovered and surgically removed to prevent airway obstruction.

Contribution

This report presents a rare case of an asymptomatic epiglottic capillary hemangioma in an adult and emphasizes the importance of surgical excision for definitive diagnosis and risk mitigation.

Findings

The lesion was incidentally discovered during general anesthesia and was completely asymptomatic.

Surgical excision with meticulous hemostasis confirmed a capillary hemangioma with no recurrence at one-year follow-up.

Abstract

Laryngeal hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that occur predominantly in children. Occurrence in adults is rare, particularly when developing in the epiglottis. This report describes a rare case of a pedunculated capillary hemangioma of the epiglottis in a 66-year-old female. The lesion was incidentally discovered during general anesthesia and was completely asymptomatic. Laryngeal endoscopy revealed a bluish-red, pedunculated mass with prominent vascularity, and MRI findings were consistent with a superficial vascular lesion without evidence of infiltration. Due to the potential risk of airway obstruction, surgical excision was performed with meticulous hemostasis. Histopathology confirmed a capillary hemangioma, and no recurrence was observed at one-year follow-up. This report highlights the importance of careful diagnostic evaluation and proactive surgical management of epiglottic vascular lesions in adults, even when asymptomatic. When surgical excision is clinically indicated, it allows for definitive histopathological diagnosis and eliminates the risk of potentially fatal airway obstruction.

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