Life-Threatening Oral Bleed - A Rare Presentation of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Abstract

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder of fibrovascular tissues. Patients with HHT often develop life-threatening bleeds from telangiectasias in the nasal or gastrointestinal mucosa or from visceral arteriovenous malformations. Recurrent oral bleeds are rare presentations in these patients and are seldom reported. This report describes a rare case of 72-year-old man with a known history of HHT who presented with a recurrent life-threatening oral bleed from telangiectasia of the palate and reviews the literature for current trends of medical and dental management. This study is an effort to draw the attention of oral physicians and surgeons to such drastic complications of the disease and various current treatment modalities.