SOLITARY PHLEBOLITH IN THE ZYGOMATIC REGION: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Calcifications found on the orofacial region may turn out to be an intriguing diagnosis. In most cases, these radiopacities may be sialoliths, although other lesions must not be exempted, such as calcified lymph nodes and phlebolith. Phleboliths are calcified thrombi occurring mainly in hemangiomas or vascular malformations. Phleboliths are rare in the head/neck region, and their formation is thought to be as a result of vascular stasis, which induces thrombus formation and subsequent dystrophic calcification. They are usually oval, multiple, and asymptomatic. Radiographically, they present concentric laminations (onion peel appearance). This study aimed to report the case of a 42-year-old Latin American woman who complained of a mildly painful benign nodule in the right zygomatic region (infraorbital ridge). In the computed axial tomography scans, the images suggested a very calcified nodule. The nodule was biopsied and diagnosed as a phlebolith associated with an involuted hemangioma. During the late follow-up, no pain nor recurrence was reported.