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Calibre-persistent artery: a vascular anomaly of the labial mucosa

British Dental Journal volume 240, pages 33–38 (2026)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterise the clinical and histologic features of calibre-persistent arteries (CPAs). A retrospective search of the archives of our diagnostic oral pathology service was performed for CPAs diagnosed between 2010 and 2025.

There were 45 CPAs in 44 patients. The female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1, with a mean age of 50.8 years. The majority of CPAs occurred on the lower lip and most were described as blue or pink in colour. Lesions were usually asymptomatic; however, some patients reported fluctuations in size or drainage. A history of trauma or irritation was reported in 7/45 cases. The most common clinical impression was of a mucocele, followed by fibroma and varix. CPA was not included in the clinical differential diagnosis in any case. Bleeding complications during surgery were reported in 3/45 cases.

We have presented the largest case series of histologically confirmed CPAs in the literature. It is critical for clinicians and pathologists to be aware of this entity due to its resemblance to more commonly encountered reactive oral lesions and the risk of profuse bleeding during surgical intervention. Clinicians should be prepared to manage such bleeding complications when excising a lesion from the lip.

Key points

  • Calibre-persistent arteries (CPAs) are common vascular anomalies of the labial mucosa.

  • CPAs can occasionally present as pink or blue papules, mimicking more common reactive oral lesions, such as fibromas and mucoceles.

  • There is a risk of profuse bleeding when performing a biopsy of a CPA.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Justin Bubola & Grace Bradley

  2. Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Dentistry, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Iona Leong

  3. Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Dentistry, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    Deepika Chugh

  4. Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Marco Magalhaes

Authors
  1. Justin Bubola
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  2. Iona Leong
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  3. Grace Bradley
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  4. Deepika Chugh
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  5. Marco Magalhaes
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Contributions

JB and MM conceptualised the study and designed the article. JB performed the literature search and wrote the initial manuscript. IL, DC, GB, and MM reviewed the results and critically appraised the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Justin Bubola.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Board of the University of Toronto (Protocol #48423). Our approved protocol included a retrospective analysis of electronic medical information and slides and did not involve the collection of personal identifiable information, so consent was not required. Written consent for publication of the clinical photographs was obtained from the respective patients.

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Bubola, J., Leong, I., Bradley, G. et al. Calibre-persistent artery: a vascular anomaly of the labial mucosa. Br Dent J 240, 33–38 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-025-9202-5

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