[Oral venous lakes: a clinicopathologic analysis of 20 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the recognization and treatment for oral venous lakes (OVL).

METHODS: Clinicopathologically analysis of 20 cases of oral venous lakes was performed. All the samples were removed by surgically.

RESULTS: All the lesions occurred in senile persons and located under the mucosa. Among the 20 cases, 11 were male patients and 9 were female; 18 of 20 occurred in the lower lip, another two in the upper lip and buccal mucosa. The lesions were 0.3 approximately 1.2 cm in size. Pathologically, the oral venous lake was composed of single or a few large, dilated and irregular veins. Thrombosis and organization were found within the lesions sometimes.

CONCLUSIONS: Oral venous lakes are a kind of focal anomalies of venous structure. All the 20 cases (with a follow-up time from 8 months to 4 years) has no recurrence after surgical treatment.