Oral lymphatic malformations: A multicenter study of 208 cases and literature review.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the frequency and analyze demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with a histopathological diagnosis of oral lymphatic malformations (OLMs).

METHODS: A multicenter study was performed, collecting biopsy record data from a consortium of Brazilian Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Centers. A review was also conducted to compare this data with cases already available in the literature.

RESULTS: This study retrieved 208 cases of OLM in the multicenter study and 1035 cases in the literature review. In both, OLMs affected male and female individuals equally, with the most affected site being the tongue. Individuals ≥60 years of age were uncommonly affected. Symptomatic and larger lesions were more commonly reported in the literature review.

CONCLUSIONS: This study comprises the largest sample of OLMs to date. OLMs are rare conditions, without sex predilection. The elderly proved to be less frequently affected, and the tongue is the most commonly affected site.