title: Lymphangiomas of the oral cavity: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and electron-microscopic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the demographics, treatment outcomes, histology, and basement lamina characteristics of a large series of lymphangiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven lymphangiomas of the oral cavity were evaluated microscopically and representative specimens were also evaluated immunohistochemically (IMH) and by electron microscopy (EM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient's ages ranged from 2 to 84 years. The dorsal surface of the tongue was the most common site. Discontinuities in the basement membrane were detected with IMH and EM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The discontinuous basement membrane may explain why sclerosing agents have not been effective as a form of treatment for lymphangioma.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*