Cavernous hemangioma of the forearm muscles: Three case reports and literature review

INTRODUCTION: Hemangiomas are common benign vascular tumors. Intramuscular hemangioma is a very rare type of hemangioma occurring in the skeletal muscle. The lower limb muscles are more likely to be affected. The location within the muscles of the forearm is extremely rare. CASE REPORT: We present three cases of intramuscular hemangioma of the upper limb. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a vascular tumor within the pronator teres muscle in two cases and the extensor pollicis brevis muscle in the other. The tumors were surgically excised, and histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of intramuscular cavernous hemangioma. The limb function was good and there was no recurrence at 12-month follow-up in the three cases. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular hemangiomas of the forearm are a condition that should be evoked by orthopedic surgeons in front of pain and swelling of this region. MRI is the most effective imaging method to suspect the diagnosis.