Angina bullosa hemorrhagica: report of 11 cases

Abstract

Angina bullosa hemorrhagica is a rare and benign disorder, usually localized in the subepithelial layer of the oral, pharyngeal and esophageal mucosa. The lesions are characterized by their sudden onset. They appear as a painless, tense, dark red and blood-filled blister in the mouth that rapidly expand and rupture spontaneously in 24-48 hours. The underlying etiopathology remains ill defined, although it may be a multifactorial phenomenon including diabetes, and steroid inhalers. The condition is not attributable to blood dyscrasias, nor other vesicular-bullous disorders. In this study, eleven patients with such blisters are described. Physical examination of the patients revealed a single blister with hemorrhagic content localized in the oral mucosa. Biopsy of the lesions showed sub epithelial blisters with a mild infiltrate. In general practice, dermatologists could face a blood-filled bullous lesion of the oral mucosa. Recognition is, therefore, of great importance for dermatologists.

Keywords: angina bullosa haemorrhagica; bullous hemorrhagica; oral mucosa blisters.

Figure 1.

Single localized blood-filled blister of the oral mucosa (case 1).

Figure 2.

Blister in oral mucosa (other cases).