Cystic lymphangioma: its orofacial manifestations

A patient age five years, nine months with cystic lymphangioma was studied to determine the causes of malocclusion and the optimum time for its treatment. The main findings were unilateral anterior and posterior crossbite and displacement of the mandibular midline due to maxillary deformity and mandibular rotation. The force of the cystic lymphangioma mass caused deformity of the maxilla and rotation of the mandible. The patient had no functional impairment of speech or mastication. A decision was made to defer treatment of malocclusion until complete surgical excision of the cystic lymphangioma can be undertaken, thereby minimizing the chance of malocclusion re-occurrence.