ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION OF THE MANDIBLE - REPORT OF A CASE WITH A NOTE ON THE DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS

Arteriovenous malformations are extremely rare conditions that can res ult from congenital or acquired abnormalities in the structure of bloo d vessels; they are potentially fatal. Arteriovenous malformations may be asymptomatic or may show various signs and symptoms including soft tissue swelling, pain, changes in skin and mucosal color, erythematou s and bleeding gingiva, bruit and paresthesia. Radiographically, there are no pathognomonic features. The present case illustrates an arteri ovenous malformation in a 16-year-old Hispanic female. The case report is unique because the malformation was previously interpreted as a pa thosis of pulpal origin and was initially treated as such, although th e tooth showed no gross or radiographic dental caries. A broad view of the diagnostic imaging, radiographic differential diagnosis, treatmen t, and histopathologic description is also presented.