Color-Doppler US features of a pyogenic granuloma of the upper dorsum tongue

The diagnosis of oral lesions is based on clinical history, clinical examination and imaging exams. Different imaging modalities are available for the diagnosis and follow-up of these lesions such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, color-Doppler ultrasound, angiography and positron emission tomography. To date, color-Doppler ultrasound is considered the first-line imaging approach since it provides a non-invasive, cost-effective, real-time evaluation of oral anomalies. It provides both morphological and vascular information which are useful to determine the best therapeutic options. Differential diagnosis of a bleeding lobular mass of the tongue is, however, not always easy and includes several vascular and non-vascular lesions. We present herein a case of pyogenic granuloma of the tongue that at Color-Doppler US appeared as hypervascular lesion. © 2014, Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB).