Granulomatous cheilitis resulting from a tuberculide

Cheilitis: A Diagnostic Algorithm and Review of Underlying Etiologies

Cheilitis, or inflammation of the lips, is a common reason for dermatologic consultation. The inflammation can include the vermillion lip, vermillion border, and surrounding skin, and can present with an acute or chronic course. There are many etiologies, including irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, atopic cheilitis, actinic cheilitis, infectious etiologies, nutritional deficiencies, drug-induced cheilitis, and rare etiologies, including granulomatous cheilitis, cheilitis glandularis, plasma cell cheilitis, lupus cheilitis, and exfoliative cheilitis. Distinguishing among the various etiologies of cheilitis is clinically difficult, as many causes may produce similar erythema and superficial desquamation of mucosal skin. In addition, patients report dryness, redness, irritation, burning, fissuring, and itch in many of the underlying causes. Thus, the specific etiology of cheilitis is often difficult to diagnose, requiring extensive testing and treatment trials. In this review, we summarize the various types of cheilitis, synthesizing novel cases, clinical presentations, histopathology, epidemiology, and advancements in diagnostic methods and therapeutics. We provide a diagnostic algorithm aimed to assist clinicians in the management of cheilitis.

Granulomatous Cheilitis or Tuberculid?

The granulomatous cheilitis (GC) presents a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by a granulomatous inflammation/reaction of the lips to various stimuli. Numerous etiologies have been proposed, including genetic, immunologic, allergic and infectious. Among the secondary causes of GC, an infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) should be considered. In such cases, the GC could be the clinical presentation of a tuberculid resulting from a hypersensitivity reaction to an underlying focus of active (ATBI) or latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This communication describes an immunocompetent patient diagnosed with GC resulting from tuberculid, who responded well to Isoniazid monotherapy.

Oral lymphangiectasia and gastrointestinal Crohn disease

Lip edema with non-caseating granulomas or lymphangiectasia pose a clinical and pathological challenge. These findings can be attributed to cheilitis granulomatosa (CG), Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS), or Crohn disease (CD) depending on the appropriate clinical context. Lymphangiectasis, in particular, is a common pathological finding in CD due to lymphatic obstruction by granulomas and intralymphatic granulomas. Because oral symptoms can precede gastrointestinal symptoms of CD or be seen in patients with asymptomatic gastrointestinal disease, the identification of lymphangiectasia should raise the possibility of underlying CD. We present a case of a young woman with several years of lip swelling, with notable lymphangiectasia and subtle granulomas on pathological evaluation. The patient was diagnosed with MRS at an outside institution and treated with systemic steroids, without further systemic evaluation. We believe that early recognition of lymphangiectasia and consideration of CD early in the work-up are critical for early diagnosis and appropriate management. Neither clinical nor histopathological findings should be used in isolation to diagnose GC, MRS, or CD as there is significant debate as to the etiology and overlapping findings of these conditions. We highlight the importance of lymphangiectasia in diagnosing underlying CD in the appropriate clinical context.

The role of exclusive enteral nutrition in the management of orofacial granulomatosis in children

BACKGROUND

Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a term used to describe a persistent, painless swelling of lips and orofacial region. It can be associated with ulceration, gingival hypertrophy and cobble stone appearance of the buccal mucosa. OFG is commonly associated with Crohn's disease and can precede the intestinal manifestation of the disease. Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is a recognized treatment for induction of remission for Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to review the use of EEN in the management of OFG in children.

METHODS

Retrospective review of medical records of all children diagnosed with OFG between 2007 and 2012 was conducted. Presence of comorbidities, progression to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and response to EEN was evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine children were included, mean age at diagnosis was 9 years (standard deviation 3.9) years. Ten children had isolated OFG and 19 had OFG and IBD, of which 12 presented with OFG and IBD and 7 developed IBD later. Median time to progression to IBD was 33 months (inter quartile range: 9.8-85.5). Twenty-two children completed 6 weeks of EEN, and 19 showed clinical improvement in the OFG appearance.

CONCLUSION

EEN appears to be an effective treatment option for children with isolated OFG or OFG and IBD.