Two pregnant women developed tumors on their lips and tongue after injuries, one caused by chewing food.
A 26-year-old from Saudi Arabia developed the benign growth on the right side of her lower lip after a “minor trauma”. The mass started out small, but grew to a nearly 1.8 cm tumor, about the size of a dime, and bled.
A 43-year-old from the same country also suffered from a tumor on her tongue that developed after she bit it while eating.
The growths – diagnosed as capillary hemangiomas and caused by the abnormal growth of blood vessels – are believed to be rare on the lips, although researchers say many cases have been misdiagnosed..
Only three cases of lip disease have been recorded so far.
Pregnancy can increase the risk of these growths because the higher levels of estrogen can cause overgrowth of blood vessels.
A 26-year-old woman from Saudi Arabia experienced the growth described above after sustaining an injury to her lips. She was pregnant at the time
A 43-year-old woman suffered from a similar growth on the side of her tongue
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Doctors applied local anesthetic to the affected area before surgically removing the tumor on the 26-year-old woman, who was in her third trimester.
She was then discharged and given antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.
At a check-up a week later, doctors found that her lip was healing well.
The tumor was allowed to grow for four months before the otherwise healthy woman sought medical attention.
The 43-year-old was in the second trimester of her pregnancy. Her tumor, believed to be about 0.3 inches in diameter, appeared about two weeks after the tongue injury.
The doctors then removed the tumor during the operation.
Capillary hemangiomas arise as a result of an overgrowth of small blood vessels called capillaries.
This causes a red or purple bump to appear on the skin.
The problem can be caused by injuries to the lips, say doctors. Damage to the tissue – through a cut or tear – leads to the sudden growth of new blood vessels to repair the wound.
But sometimes it can go wrong and lead to overgrowth of the blood vessels behind the condition.
Pregnant women may be at greater risk because levels of the sex hormone estrogen are increased.
Estrogen can bind to blood vessel cells and cause them to proliferate excessively.
Doctors said the tumors on the lips may be so rare because they are often misdiagnosed as pyogenic granulomas – a non-cancerous skin growth that appears as a small, reddish lump.
Cases are more commonly reported on the tongue, probably due to the large number of blood vessels in this area.
Doctors surgically removed the growth, which had been swelling continuously for four months
The other woman also had the growth surgically removed
Above, you can see the 26-year-old woman’s lips after surgery. One week after the procedure, she came for a check-up
Above you can see the woman’s tongue after the tumor that appeared while eating was removed
Capillary hemangiomas, a subtype of hemangiomas—which include any tumors that result from the overgrowth of blood vessels—are more common in infants and children and are related to abnormal development of blood vessels in the womb.
The growths occur mostly on the head and neck, which doctors suspect is due to the large amount of blood vessels.
Dr. Alsheikh and others added in the report: “Although hemangiomas can develop in any part of the body, the head and neck are most commonly affected.”
“Because these lesions are visible from the outside, they are usually quickly recognized and diagnosed by patients and doctors.”
He added that in most cases these lesions go away on their own.
“But they are surgically removed.” [removed] if detected early for cosmetic and functional reasons.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
