Lip reduction cheiloplasty for Miescher's granulomatous macrocheilitis (Cheilitis granulomatosa) in childhood

Surgical management of Miescher's cheilitis: a case report

Miescher’s cheilitis, also known as cheilitis granulomatosa, is an infrequent disease characterized by chronic recurrent swelling of one lip or both lips. It is considered as one of the three main symptoms of the triad of the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, although in many cases it may develop monosymptomatically.

The initial management is based on the administration of corticoids, followed in many cases by the use of other systemic treatments. Nevertheless, because recurrence is quite frequent, surgery remains in many cases as the only definitive treatment.

In this report we present the case of a Caucasian woman with Miescher’s cheilitis who was successfully surgically managed.

A severe case of cheilitis granulomatosa: clinical-pathologic findings and management

INTRODUCTION

Cheilitis granulomatosa is an idiopathic granulomatous disorder which is rare and cosmetically disturbing. It presents with a persistent painless labial swelling which obscure etiology. Diagnosis is mainly based on the histopathological features following biopsy. There is no definitive treatment of this disease, reason being its lack of well-defined etiology. It has been proven largely resistant to most of the treatment options.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 28-year-old man presented with the labial swelling which was confirmed to be cheilitis granulomatosa following histopathologic examination. We have successfully managed this case using intralesional steroids.

CONCLUSION

Intralesional steroids can be used successfully in management of cheilitis granulomatosa.

Persistent lip enlargement: An unusual presentation of lupus erythematosus

Macrocheilia is a challenging problem with a variety of underlying causes that are both local and systemic, and granulomatous causes underlie the majority of cases. In this study, we report on a 31-year old man who presented with a chronic lower lip enlargement and a nodular submental erythematous lesion. He was otherwise clinically healthy. Laboratory test results were within the normal limit except for a positive anti-double stranded DNA test result. A diagnosis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus was made on the basis of histopathology and direct immunofluorescence. The lesions resolved dramatically after treatment with hydroxychloroquine. Lupus erythematosus should be considered when examining patients who present with chronic lip swelling.

Orofacial Granulomatosis

Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is an uncommon chronic inflammatory disorder of the orofacial region. It is characterized by subepithelial noncaseating granulomas and has a spectrum of possible clinical manifestations ranging from subtle oral mucosal swelling to permanent disfiguring fibrous swelling of the lips and face. Etiopathogenesis is unknown. A range of systemic granulomatous disorders, including Crohn disease and sarcoidosis, may cause orofacial manifestations that cannot be distinguished from those of OFG. Treatment of OFG has proven difficult and unsatisfactory, with no single therapeutic model showing consistent efficacy in reducing orofacial swelling and mucosal inflammation.

Association between orofacial granulomatosis and Crohn’s disease in children: Systematic review

AIM: To review pediatric cases of orofacial granulomatosis (OFG), report disease characteristics, and explore the association between OFG and Crohn’s disease.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. We searched Medline, LILACS, Virtual Health Library, and Web of Knowledge in September 2013 for cases of OFG in the pediatric age range (< 18 years), with no language limitations. All relevant articles were accessed in full text. The manual search included references of retrieved articles. We extracted data on patients’ characteristics, disease characteristics, association with other diseases, and treatment. We analyzed the data and reported the results in tables and text.

RESULTS: We retrieved 173 reports of OFG in children. Mean age at onset was 11.1 ± 3.8 years (range: 2.0-18 years). Prevalence in males was significant higher than in females (P < 0.001), with a male:female ratio of 2:1. Gastrointestinal signs or symptoms were present in 26.0% of children at the time of OFG diagnosis. Overall, 70/173 (40.4%) children received a concomitant diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. In about half (51.4%) of the cases the onset of OFG anticipated the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, with a mean time between the two diagnoses of 13.1 ± 11.6 mo (range: 3-36 mo). Overall, 21/173 (12.1%) of the children with OFG had perianal disease, while 11/173 (6.4%) had a family history of Crohn’s disease. Both perianal disease and a family history of Crohn’s disease were significantly associated with a higher risk of Crohn’s disease diagnosis in children with OFG [relative risk (RR) = 3.10, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.46-3.90; RR = 2.74, 95%CI: 2.24-3.36, P < 0.0001 for both). Treatment of OFG included steroids (70.8% of children) and other immunosuppressive drugs (42.7%), such as azathioprine, thalidomide and infliximab.

CONCLUSION: High prevalence of Crohn’s disease in children with OFG suggests that OFG may be a subtype of Crohn’s disease.

[Cheilitis granulomatosa Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome]

Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by a triad of recurrent orofacial swelling, recurrent paralysis of the facial nerve and lingua plicata. The complete triad only occurs in 25% of MRS cases. Monosymptomatic or oligosymptomatic variants are more frequent; other findings include granulomas in other facial sites, regional lymphadenopathy, fever, psychotic disorders and hyperplastic gingivitis are associated with MRS. This can be a diagnostic challenge. The etiology and pathogenesis of MRS are unknown. Corticosteroids or clofazimine appear the best therapeutic options.