Sclerotherapy of oral varicosities: case series report

Authors

  • Lucas Nogueira Ramos Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora , Campus Governador Valadares , Minas Gerais, Brasil.
  • Thainara de Sousa Silva Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0052-3537
  • Rafael Almeida Rocha Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1993-6647
  • Bernardo César Costa Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6611-1286
  • Rose Mara Ortega Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campos Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1391-7857

Keywords:

Vascular malformations, Sclerotherapy, Sclerosing solutions.

Abstract

Introduction: Oral varicosities are considered acquired vascular anomalies, often associated with the aging process. They are usually diagnosed in the elderly and the most common sites of involvement are the ventral and lateral border of the tomgue, in addition to the lower labial mucosa. They do not routinely require treatment, except for aesthetic and/or functional reasons. Among the therapeutic options, sclerotherapy stands out, in which sclerosing agents are used to induce an intense inflammatory process that results in vascular fibrosis and regression of the lesion. Monoethanolamine oleate (MO) at 5% has been highlighted due to its wide availability in Brazil, low cost and reduced toxicity. Objective: To describe a series of four clinical cases of oral varicosities treated with sclerotherapy. Methods: Four cases of oral varisosities that underwent sclerotherapy with 5% MO diluited in anesthetic solution without vasoconstrictor were selected. Results: The selected cases showed equal distribution between men and women. The patients’ ages ranged from 49 to 69 years, with a mean of 60.25 years. All patients were white and the main complaint was aesthetic impairment. In three cases (75%), oral varicosity was found in the vermelion of the lower lip, and in one case (25%) in the vermelion of the upper lip. In two cases (50%) a single session was sufficient to resolve the oral varicosity, while in the other two cases (50%) two sessions were necessary for complete resolution. The follow-up visit after one year of sclerotherapy showed that there were no recurrences in any of the cases. Conclusion: Sclerotherapy with 5% MO dilutes in anesthetic salt proved to be an effective, safe, versatile and easy-to-apply method, providing excellent aesthetic results and greater patient comfort, and requiring a reduced number of sessions for the treatment of oral varicosities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA). ISSVA Classification for Vascular Anomalies [Internet]. [S. l.]: ISSVA, 2025 [citado em 2025, dezembro, 07]. Disponível em: https://www.issva.org/classification.

Kunimoto K, Yamamoto Y, Jinnin M. ISSVA Classification of Vascular Anomalies and Molecular Biology. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(4):2358. DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042358.

DeHart A, Richter G. Hemangioma: recent advances. F1000Research. 2019;8. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.20152.1.

Hawkins CM, Chewning RH. Diagnosis and management of extracranial vascular malformations in children: arteriovenous malformations, venous malformations, and lymphatic malformations. Semin Roentgenol. 2019 Oct;54(4):337-48. WB Saunders. DOI: 10.1053/j.ro.2019.06.004.

Lazos JP, Piemonte ED, Panico RL. Oral varix: a review. Gerodontology. 2015 Jun;32(2):82-9. DOI: 10.1111/ger.12074.

Moraes BM, Arêdes MM, Vilaça CMM, Barki MCLJM, Werneck JT, Fontes KBFC, et al. Evaluation of sclerotherapy with different dilutions of ethanolamine oleate in the treatment of oral varicose veins. RGO-Revista Gaúcha de Odontologia. 2021;69: e20210043. DOI: 10.1590/1981-863720210004320200090.

Fernandes DT, Elias RA, Santos-Silva AR, Vargas PA, Lopes MA. Benign oral vascular lesions treated by sclerotherapy with ethanolamine oleate: A retrospective study of 43 patients. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2018;23(2): e180. DOI: 10.4317/medoral.22253.

Tolentino ES, Faria LO, Vargas RM, Camarini C, Santin GC, Silva MC. Monoethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy for the treatment of intraoral vascular anomalies: retrospective study and suggestion for a clinical guideline. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020;58(4):416-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.01.020.

McNamara KK, Kalmar JR. Erythematous and vascular oral mucosal lesions: a clinicopathologic review of red entities. Head Neck Patol. 2019; 13:4-15. DOI: 10.1007/s12105-019-01002-8.

Ramakrishnan K, Palanivel I, Narayanan V, Chandran S, Gurram P. Management of vascular malformations in the oral and maxillofacial region: a systematic review. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021;122(6):588-99. DOI: 10.1016/j.jormas.2020.12.010.

Corrêa PH, Nunes LCC, Johann ACBR, Aguiar MCF, Gomez RS, Mesquita RA. Prevalence of oral hemangioma, vascular malformation and varix in a Brazilian population. Braz. Oral Res. 2007; 21:40-5. DOI: 10.1590/s1806-83242007000100007.

Lazos J, Marco ER, Brunotto M, Panico R, Piemonte E. Oral varicose veins: clinical features and its association with medical conditions. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medicine, and Pathology. 2020;32(3):216-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoms.2019.11.007.

Tomita R, Kitamura N, Yoshizawa Y, Sasabe E, Kudo Y, Yamamoto T. A case of large varix including partially organizing thrombosis on the oral floor. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medicine, and Pathology. 2020;32(4):313-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoms.2020.03.003.

Müller S. Melanin-associated pigmented lesions of the oral mucosa: presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment Dermatol Ther. 2010;23(3):220-9. DOI:10.1111/j.1529-8019.2010.01319.x.

Kato CNAO, Ribeiro MC, do Amaral MBF, Grossmann SD, Aguiar MCF, Mesquita RA. Experience with 5% ethanolamine oleate for sclerotherapy of oral vascular anomalies: A cohort of 15 consecutive patients. J Cranio Maxillofac Surg. 2019 ;47(1):106-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2018.11.009.

Manzano BR, Premoli AM, Santaella NG, Ikuta CRS, Rubira CMF, Santos PSS. Sclerotherapy as an esthetic indication in oral vascular malformations: a case series. An Bras Dermatol. 2019;94(5):521-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2019.09.010.

Johann ACBR, Aguiar MCF, Carmo MAV, Gomez RS, Castro WH, Mesquita RA. Sclerotherapy of benign oral vascular lesion with ethanolamine oleate: an open clinical trial with 30 lesions. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2005;100(5):579-84. DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2004.12.021.

Matsumoto K, Nakanishi H, Koizumi Y, Seike T, Kanda I, Kubo Y. Sclerotherapy of hemangioma with late involution. Dermatol Surg. 2003;29(6):668-71. DOI: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2003.29159.x.

Bonan PRF, Miranda LP, Mendes DC, Paula AMB, Pego SPB, Martelli-Júnior H. Effectiveness of low flow vascular lesions sclerosis with monoethanolamine: report of six cases [Internet]. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2007 [citado em 2025, dezembro, 07];12(7): E524-7. Disponível em: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17978777/.

Silva WB, Ribeiro ALR, Menezes SAF, Pinheiro JJV, Alves-Junior SM. Oral capillary hemangioma: a clinical protocol of diagnosis and treatment in adults. Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2014;18(4):431-7. DOI: 10.1007/s10006-013-0436-z.

Ribeiro MC, Grossmann SMC, Amaral MBF, Castro WH, Navarro TP, Procopio RJ, et al. Effectiveness and safety of foam sclerotherapy with 5% ethanolamine oleate in the treatment of low-flow venous malformations in the head and neck region: a case series. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2018;47(7):900-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2017.12.004.

Zeevi I, Chaushu G, Alterman M, Chaushu L. Sclerotherapy of Vascular Malformations in the Oral Cavity-Minimizing Postoperative Morbidity. Medicina. 2020;56(5):254. DOI: 10.3390/medicina56050254.

Published

2025-12-19

How to Cite

1.
Nogueira Ramos L, de Sousa Silva T, Almeida Rocha R, Costa BC, Ortega RM. Sclerotherapy of oral varicosities: case series report. HU Rev [Internet]. 2025Dec.19 [cited 2025Dec.20];51. Available from: https://periodicos.ufjf.br/index.php/hurevista/article/view/49914

Issue

Section

Relato de Caso