Intranodal Hemangioma: Case Report and Systematic Review

Intranodal hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumors of the lymph nodes, often misdiagnosed as malignant lymphadenopathies due to their clinical and radiological features. This case report and systematic review aim to elucidate the epidemiology, clinical profile, and therapeutic interventions for intranodal hemangioma, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and management.

A systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to March 15, 2024, using keywords like "intranodal hemangioma," "primary intranodal hemangioma," "nodal hemangioma," "vascular tumor," and "lymph node hemangioma." Inclusion criteria included studies on clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic interventions for intranodal hemangioma in patients of all ages. Excluded were reviews, opinion pieces, non-English studies, cases of hemangioendothelioma, sclerosing hemangioma, and animal studies. Key aspects analyzed included demographics, clinical presentation, management strategies, and histopathological findings.

Our case involves a 3-year-old female with a submandibular mass, initially diagnosed with hemangioma. After no response to beta-blocker therapy and conflicting imaging results, surgical excision was performed. Histopathology confirmed intranodal hemangioma. From 233 records, 19 publications (36 patients, including our case) met the inclusion criteria. The review shows common clinical presentations as painless, slowly enlarging lymph nodes, primarily in the cervical and axillary regions. Diagnostic challenges often require imaging and biopsy to differentiate from malignancies.

Recognizing intranodal hemangiomas, particularly in childhood, is crucial to prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The rarity of these tumors in childhood and their clinical presentation similar to malignancies in older patients make diagnosis challenging without widespread awareness. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of both diagnosis and treatment, often leading to favorable outcomes.