Chronic Viral Infections and Development of Vascular Malformations/Tumors of Head and Neck: Is There a Correlation?

Background: Angiogenesis is the process of new vessels formation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most involved growth factor in endothelial cell proliferation. Many viruses are implicated in this process, directly through membrane receptors or indirectly by stimulating VEGF production. In particular, hepatitis B virus (HBV) can stimulate proliferation of endothelial cells, contributing to the development of vascular malformations and tumors, benign as hemangiomas or malignant as hepatocarcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma. Objective: Starting from these assumptions, the authors of this observation paper questioned the possibility that chronic HBV infection could determine vascular malformations/tumors also in other areas, in particular head and neck. Case Description: To answer this question, a case of a 52-year-old woman with chronic HBV infection, who developed a vascular malformation of the upper lip, was described. Conclusion: This hypothesis of correlation between chronic viral infections, with a blood viral load 0, and vascular malformations/tumors can lay the foundations for carrying out molecular studies.