Publication:

Intramuscular hemangioma in masseter muscle: a rare presentation

Intramuscular hemangioma contribute to less than 1% of all hemangioma forming around 0.8%. It is commonly located in trunk and extremities. Only 10 to 20% can be found in the head and neck region arising from masseter and trapezius. We present a rare case of a young male with intramuscular hemangioma of masseter muscle. A 20 year old male patient presented to the OPD with complaints of swelling over right side of face over parotid region for the past 6 years. On clinical examination, there was a oblong swelling of about 3×2 cm around the right parotid region. In MRI neck the features were suggestive of intramuscular hemangioma in the right masseter muscle. The patient was planned for an excisional biopsy. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of intramuscular hemangioma. Although intramuscular hemangioma of masseter is a very rare possibility, still it should be kept in consideration in the list of differential diagnoses of the tumours around parotid region. As this diagnosis will make a difference in the work up plan and management of the patient.