Treatment and follow‐up of persistent granulomatous cheilitis with intralesional steroid and metronidazole

Abstract

Granulomatous cheilitis (GC) is a chronic edema which frequently affects the upper lip due to granulomatous inflammation. Its etiology is currently unknown. This rare disease is generally accompanied by Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome (MRS), characterized by scrotal tongue, orofacial edema and facial paralysis. However, it is also known to develop only with orofacial edema. Granulomatous cheilitis is a difficult disease to treat because of recurrences. There are contradictory reports about the results of treatment without surgical intervention and the rates of recurrence. Our case was a 57‐year‐old female patient who was characterized by orofacial edema only. The edema and erythema had persisted for 1 year before admission. In the present case, application of intralesional corticosteroid treatment as a total of three injections over 3 consecutive months (one injection per month) and the accompanying metronidazole treatment brought about successful results. No recurrence was observed in the follow‐up.