External cervical root resorption involving multiple maxillary teeth in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Abstract

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited syndrome characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectases that commonly involve the tongue, lips, fingers, and conjunctiva. While root resorption has been reported in association with central hemangiomas of bone, the association of HHT with external cervical root resorption has not been described to date. We report a case of a 57-year-old female with HTT who presented with advanced cervical root resorption involving multiple maxillary anterior teeth. Histologic examination of the gingival tissue adjacent to the area of root resorption demonstrated multiple thin-walled vascular elements as well as larger vascular channels surrounded by a thickened muscular layer. We hypothesize that the external root resorption seen in this case is the result of the HHT-related vascular process in the adjacent gingival tissue.