Also, an enhancing vessel was noted within the periphery of the mass, but no evidence of salivary stones or
phleboliths was seen.
Five out of seven patients (71%) had evidence on examination and imaging of
phleboliths within the mass.
Assessment of the clinical utility of the rim and comet-tail signs in differentiating ureteral stones from
phleboliths. AJR 2001; 177: 1285-291.
Plain films help to differentiate between
phleboliths and calculi by showing a radiolucent centre in 66% cases.
(3-4) In our patient the calcified lesion represented
phleboliths often seen in venous malformations.
Vascular lesion of the masseter presenting with
phlebolith. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120(4):545-8.
DISCUSSION: Hemangioma with
phlebolith of the parotid and submandibular glands are frequently seen but hemangioma with
phlebolith in the floor of the mouth is rarely entity.
Some patients may also complain of tender cord like structure in the floor of the mouth due to
phleboliths. They are seldom misdiagnosed as chronic sialadenitis with sialolith.
* Venous malformations (VMs): These compressible lesions are composed of malformed venous channels with sluggish internal blood flow and are often associated with focal areas of thrombosis that result in the characteristic
phleboliths. Head and neck VMs involve both superficial and deep tissues and are often trans-spatial, with a predilection for the muscles of mastication (Figure 4).
The cavernous spaces may contain calcified thrombi, referred to as
phleboliths. Between the dilated vascular spaces, there is proliferation of spindle cells composed of endothelial cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts.
As other calcifications can appear in the same region of atheroma on panoramic radiograph, which may be anatomic (hyoid bone, cartilage triticeous, epiglottis, etc.) or pathologic (calcified lymph nodes, tonsilloliths,
phleboliths, etc.) (3), it is necessary another radiographic (AP) or exam for the diagnosis to be confirmed.
(11) By definition, these multiple enchondromas are associated with soft tissue swelling and calcifications and
phleboliths, which are typical of hemangiomas.
