Une ulcération atypique de la lèvre inférieure

Abstract

Cutaneous pathomimia is a self-induced disease characterized by conscious self-injury to mucocutaneous boundary or its phaneres. We report the case of a 22-year old woman, with no notable medical history, presenting with sudden onset ulceration on her lower lip evolving for 3 months in a context of preservation of patient's clinical status. The patient had previously consulted several dermatologists and had undergone two skin biopsies with non-specific histological diagnosis. Clinical examination showed painful, well-defined ulceration with clean surface and non-indurated basis, measuring 1 × 3 cm in diameter and involving the left half of the lower lip (A). Given the clinical appearance of the lesion, its chronic nature and the lack of response to local care, several diagnosis were suspected: squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous leishmaniasis, pyoderma gangrenosum… Deep biopsy was performed showing a loss of substance revealing the chorion, without histological characters of malignancy. Syphilis and HIV tests were negative. Fifteen days after, patient's evolution was marked by the appearance of an identical lesion on the right side of the lower lip, with complete healing of the former lesion by occlusive dressing (B). The follow-up interview showed, again, manipulation with the hand as well as family conflicts. Examination by a psychiatrist compared with clinical and evolutionary data showed cutaneous pathomimia.