ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Granulomatous cheilitis (GC) is a rare entity of unknown etiology. It is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a predilection for young females. It is characterized by asymptomatic unrelenting swelling of lips. It is a monosymptomatic form or an incomplete variant of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (a triad of recurrent orofacial swelling, relapsing facial paralysis, and fissuring of the tongue). CASE PRESENTATION: We herewith report a case of a 27-year-old female, presenting with persistent upper lip swelling, for 3 months. Biopsy from the lesion revealed features of granulomatous cheilitis. CONCLUSION: GC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unrelenting swelling in the lip. Spontaneous remission is rare, and recurrences are common. Corticosteroids used for treatment provide temporary improvement.
Subject(s)
Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome , Female , Humans , Adult , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Recurrence , Biopsy , Remission, SpontaneousABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare neuro-mucocutaneous disease. In addition to the traditional clinical triad, there is also a diversity of clinical signs, and it may be related to other systemic diseases. METHODS: In the present study, we report a case of MRS with endocrine disorders that exhibits extraordinary therapeutic efficiency by using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), explore whether there is an internal connection between MRS and endocrine disorders, and discuss the mechanism of the therapeutic efficiency of using HCQ. The hypothesis proposed for the first time is that MRS may essentially be a systemic granulomatous disease. RESULTS: The physical examination revealed orofacial swelling and fissured tongue. The histopathologic examination showed epithelioid granulomas. Combined with the other examination, this case was diagnosed as incomplete MRS. HCQ and local drugs were introduced. The patient achieved clinical recovery and psychological cure by the 18-week follow-up, and the 1-year follow-up found no reactivation of MRS. Moreover, the levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic were within normal ranges. CONCLUSIONS: After the drug therapy was targeted at granuloma, not only did all of the symptoms related to MRS disappear, but the endocrine system also returned to normal. It is speculated that the endocrine disorder in this patient may be related to MRS. We further propose the first-time hypothesis that MRS may essentially be a systemic granulomatous disease. It provides a new medication method with high-level efficiency.
Subject(s)
Hydroxychloroquine , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome , Adolescent , Female , Granuloma , Humans , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapyABSTRACT
Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a rare disorder with varied etiological, immunological and infectious mechanisms implicated and is believed to be a umbrella term which includes Melkersson Rosethal syndrome (MRS). We describe a 17 year old female who was diagnosed with OFG and was successfully treated with a combination of minocycline and clofazimine without oral steroids with significant improvement within 1 month of therapy.
Subject(s)
Granulomatosis, Orofacial , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome , Adolescent , Clofazimine , Female , Humans , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Minocycline , SteroidsABSTRACT
Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is a rare condition characterized by a triad of orofacial edema, facial paralysis, and fissured tongue. Histopathological examination of the disease has demonstrated areas of inflammation involving mast cells. Activated mast cells also play a part in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 infection, as they release cytokines in the lungs. We present a case of a female patient presenting with edema. We present a case of a female patient presenting with edema. Her examination revealed edema in the right lower lip, right facial paralysis, and fissured tongue. COVID-19 may be associated with which was not previously included in the etiology of the disease.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/etiology , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Azithromycin/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Emergency Service, Hospital , Female , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/therapeutic use , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Middle Aged , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19 Drug TreatmentABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare disease characterized by the triad of granulomatous cheilitis, fissured tongue, and facial paralysis. Publications concerning large series are rare in the literature. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of patients with complete and oligosymptomatic forms of MRS. METHODS: A retrospective records review was performed for the diagnoses of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, granulomatous cheilitis, and orofacial granulomatosis at oral Diseases Clinic of the Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Brazil (2003, 2017). RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were included, mean age at presentation 35.69 years. Four patients were younger than 18 years. The complete triad of was observed in 10 patients. The rare findings of granulomatous blepharitis, gingivitis and palatitis are presented. Comorbidities included Crohn's disease (5 patients), migraine headaches (1 patient) and convulsions (2 patients). Granulomatous inflammatory infiltrate was detected in 31 biopsies. Medical therapies included included oral and intralesional steroids, thalidomide, dapsone, azathioprine, tetracycline, methotrexate, and surgery, with variable responses. CONCLUSIONS: Our report meant to draw attention to the clinical spectrum of this rare disorder, mainly to oligosymptomatic forms and rarer presentations.
Subject(s)
Granulomatosis, Orofacial/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Brazil , Comorbidity , Female , Granulomatosis, Orofacial/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare neuro-muco-cutaneous syndrome, which is characterized by recurrent orofacial swelling, recurrent facial paralysis and fissured tongue. It has a high prevalence in young adults. Up to now, the etiology of MRS is still not clear, it may related to infection, immune deficiency and hereditary factors. The pharmacological therapy and surgery are the main treatment. Corticosteroids seems to be the drug of choice for MRS patient, but the specific dosage and therapeutic effect have not yet been determined. Surgeries of lips provide excellent results in persistentlip edema MRS cases. This article reviews the research progress on MRS, focusing on its epidemiology, etiology, histopathological characteristics, clinical manifestations, classification, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis and treatment, to provide information for its early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Subject(s)
Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome , Adrenal Cortex Hormones , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Lip , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Skin , Young AdultABSTRACT
A wide variety of drugs and substances have the potential to damage the respiratory system by different mechanisms. Clofazimine is an anti-leprosy drug that is normally only prescribed for a few years. It has a very long half-life, and crystalline deposition of the drug in various tissues has been documented. But up to now, no fatalities due to pulmonary damage have been described. We report the case of a patient who took clofazimine for almost 27 years as off-label treatment for Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. He suffered from progressive dyspnea, productive cough, and occasional hemoptysis. X-ray and CT of the thoracic organs revealed extensive multilocular, compact, tumor-like infiltrates with central necrosis in both lungs. Pulmonary function tests showed restrictive impairment and manifest hypoxemia. Histology of lung biopsies revealed intense interstitial accumulation of histiocytes and marked deposition of crystalline foreign material. The patient died from progressive respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed crystalline deposition and a histiocytic reaction in many other parenchymal organs. Conclusion: Pulmonary parenchymal deposition of drug crystals is a rare mechanism of drug-induced pulmonary diseases. Long-standing, off-label use of clofazimine may cause severe destruction of the lungs and can be fatal.
Subject(s)
Clofazimine/adverse effects , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome , Respiratory Insufficiency , Biopsy , Fatal Outcome , Hemoptysis , Humans , Male , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/chemically induced , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapyABSTRACT
Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare disease characterized by a triad of relapsing or persistent orofacial edema, recurrent lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy and fissured tongue. Acute, painless, non-erythematosus orofacial edema is observed in all patients. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who presented with a 2-year history of swelling of the upper lip, facial paralysis, and fissured tongue; she was treated successfully with dapsone.
Subject(s)
Dapsone/therapeutic use , Folic Acid Antagonists/therapeutic use , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Biological Products/adverse effects , Crohn Disease/drug therapy , Infliximab/adverse effects , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/microbiology , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Tuberculosis, Cutaneous/microbiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/microbiology , Adolescent , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Biopsy , Colonoscopy , Crohn Disease/diagnosis , Crohn Disease/immunology , Female , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/immunology , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/immunology , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment Outcome , Tuberculosis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Cutaneous/drug therapy , Tuberculosis, Cutaneous/immunology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitors , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunologyABSTRACT
Orofacial granulomatosis is a relapsing nonnecrotizing granulomatous syndrome that classically presents with lip and perioral swelling. Over the years, several patients have been referred to the Duke Eye Center Oculoplastics Department for severe, progressive, recurrent eyelid swelling interfering with both their functional vision and their appearance. In this IRB approved retrospective case series, we describe the clinical course of 5 such patients, including their presenting symptoms, diagnosis, and response to treatment. We hope that oculoplastics specialists will consider this entity in the differential diagnosis of periorbital edema and consider initiating localized anti-inflammatory treatment once the diagnosis has been made.
Subject(s)
Edema/diagnosis , Eyelid Diseases/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Drug Therapy, Combination , Edema/drug therapy , Eyelid Diseases/drug therapy , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Methotrexate/therapeutic use , Middle Aged , Prednisolone/therapeutic use , Triamcinolone Acetonide/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Child , Female , Herpes Simplex/complications , Herpesvirus 1, Human/genetics , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Neuroimaging/methodsABSTRACT
Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a neuromucocutaneous disease of unknown pathogenesis. With this communication, we describe a case of a 26-year-old woman with complete MRS in whom Mycolicibacterium fortuitum was detected in the swelling lip biopsy by next- generation sequencing. The patient's symptoms were slightly improved after intralesional corticosteroid injection combined with broad-spectrum antibiotics, while they were significantly improved after further treatment of dental caries and removal of the residual root. This case provides insight into the possible microbial infection pathogenesis of MRS, and M. fortuitum was speculated to be related to granulomatous and neuronal disorders, most probably from odontogenic origin.
Subject(s)
Dental Caries , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome , Female , Humans , Adult , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/drug therapy , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/complications , Dental Caries/complications , Dental Caries/pathology , Lip/pathology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Edema/pathologyABSTRACT
Granulomatous cheilitis (GC) is a poorly understood disease process belonging to the larger group of orofacial granulomatosis. The treatment of GC has proven exceedingly difficult. While various treatments have been applied to GC, there has been no uniform or predictably successful model demonstrated in the literature. Poor understanding of the aetiological mechanisms underpinning GC has significantly hampered the development of an effective approach to treatment. Those therapies that have shown promise principally consist of agents with anti-inflammatory activity such as corticosteroids and immunomodulatory medications. On a careful review of the literature, we have found no systematic review and assessment of current treatments. We seek to address this absence in the available literature by providing a consolidated overview of current treatment for GC.