Intramuscular hemangioma in the zygomaticus minor muscle: a case report and literature review

Intramuscular hemangioma is a rare vascular benign proliferation that can occur within any muscle, particularly in the trunk and extremities. In the head and neck region, the masseter muscle is most commonly involved, followed by the periorbital and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Diagnosing intramuscular hemangioma is challenging because there are no characteristic symptoms; instead, magnetic resonance imaging is the best imaging modality to diagnose these lesions. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice, although the local recurrence rate is high. Herein, we report a rare case of intramuscular hemangioma located in the zygomaticus minor muscle, which is related to smiling and usually runs along the orbicularis oculi muscle. Distinguishing or separating these two muscles is challenging. However, based on the muscle vector of the midface and radiological findings, the two muscles were successfully separated. The zygomaticus minor was cut very slightly to approach to the lesion and the muscle fibers were split to excise it. A follow-up examination revealed no nerve damage or muscle dysfunction at 4 weeks postoperatively. This rare case may serve as a reference for managing intramuscular hemangioma in the head and neck region.