Tooth - Angiectasis

The dental pulp is located in the pulp cavity and is composed of delicate connective tissue interspersed with small blood vessels, lymphatics, sensory nerves, and primitive connective tissue cells. Angiectasis (vascular ectasia) of the tooth consists of variable-sized, dilated vascular spaces lined by a single layer of well-differentiated endothelium (Figure 1 and Figure 2) in the pulp cavity. There is no apparent increase in numbers of vessels, and the stroma of the organ is unaltered. Angiectasis in the pulp is a common incidental finding.

The difference between angiectasis and hemangioma can be unclear. Hemangiomas tend to be well-circumscribed unencapsulated masses composed of tightly packed dilated vascular spaces. Each vascular space is enclosed and lined by a single layer of normal-appearing endothelial cells aligned on collagenous septa, which are usually thin, although some have broad collagenous stroma. Angiectasis does not usually present as a well-circumscribed mass, as the dilated vascular channels often course irregularly through connective tissue.