Masseteric venous malformations: diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a typical presentation of venous malformation within the masseter muscle, including physical findings and imaging, and to present the University of California, San Francisco's (UCSF) Vascular Anomalies and Birthmark Center's (VABC) experience with sclerotherapy for these lesions.


METHODS
Case series with chart review.


METHODS
Tertiary care medical center.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to the UCSF VABC over a 10-year period.


RESULTS
Twelve patients with isolated venous malformations of the masseter muscle were identified. All of these patients presented with pain and facial asymmetry that was more pronounced with jaw-clenching. All underwent magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating a T2 hyperintense homogenous mass contained within the masseter muscle. Eleven of 12 had evidence on imaging of phleboliths within the mass; 10 patients underwent sclerotherapy. All treated patients had initial improvement in symptoms and/or appearance. Seven of 10 have had sustained improvement at a mean follow-up of 28 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Masseteric venous malformations have a typical clinical presentation and imaging characteristics that should allow clinicians to distinguish them from other abnormalities presenting in this area. Percutaneous sclerotherapy should be considered as a treatment option for these patients and can result in excellent outcomes.
Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0342, USA. krosbe@ohns.ucsf.edu
Kristina W
KW
Rosbe
Christopher P
CP
Hess
Christopher F
CF
Dowd
Ilona J
IJ
Frieden
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000098:blood supply*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*; D055815:Young Adult