MRI and MDCT Findings of Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma in the Oral Cavity of a Neonate: A Case Report and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION: Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare, locally aggressive vascular tumor of childhood. However, a detailed description of its imaging features, especially for neonatal oral cavity lesions, is lacking in the literature, with no prior reports detailing both prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postnatal multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) findings. This report presents a case of neonatal KHE, focusing on its distinctive imaging manifestations on both modalities to provide diagnostic insights for this rare condition in an unusual location. CASE PRESENTATION: Prenatal MRI at 38 weeks of gestation and MDCT two days after birth revealed a soft tissue mass in the oral cavity protruding outward. Hemorrhage, hemosiderin deposition, and prominent flow voids within the lesion, as well as destruction or erosion of adjacent bone structures, were observed on MDCT and/or MRI. On the fifth day after birth, a biopsy of the oral mass was performed, and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of KHE. Two months later, the newborn was transferred to another hospital for surgical resection of the tumor. At telephone follow-up three months after surgery, the mother reported that the child was able to swallow and feed normally. CONCLUSIONS: KHE is a rare vascular tumor that can be easily mistaken for a benign hemangioma. A definite diagnosis can be reached based on characteristic imaging findings on MDCT and MRI, particularly in newborns and children.