Intranodal Hemangioma: Case Report and Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Vascular Oncology
• Pediatric Pathology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Intranodal hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumors of lymph nodes.
• They are frequently misdiagnosed as malignant lymphadenopathies due to similar clinical and radiological features.
• This poses diagnostic challenges, particularly in pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the epidemiology, clinical profile, and therapeutic interventions for intranodal hemangioma.
• To enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve management strategies.
• To highlight the importance of recognizing these rare tumors.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
• Searches conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to March 15, 2024.
• Inclusion of studies on clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic interventions for intranodal hemangioma.

Main Results:

• A case report of a 3-year-old female with a submandibular mass confirmed as intranodal hemangioma post-excision.
• Review of 19 publications (36 patients) identified common presentations as painless, slowly enlarging lymph nodes (cervical, axillary).
• Diagnostic challenges necessitate imaging and biopsy to differentiate from malignancies.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing intranodal hemangiomas is crucial to prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, especially in children.
• The rarity and presentation similar to malignancies make diagnosis challenging without increased awareness.
• Surgical excision is the primary diagnostic and therapeutic approach, yielding favorable outcomes.