Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome. Clinical case

This clinical case is of interest due to the rare occurrence of Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome in the population, as well as the difficulty in diagnosing and achieving remission of this disease.

Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome is a rare chronic relapsing dermatosis in the population, in typical cases characterized by a triad of symptoms: macrocheilitis, neuropathy of the facial nerve and folding of the tongue. However, much more often the disease manifests monosymptomically. The etiology of the syndrome has not been definitively studied: the infectious and allergic component, inflammatory processes of the facial nerve, genetic predisposition, as well as contact with metals (cobalt and gold) are considered as the determining causes. The diagnosis is based on clinical data and the results of a pathomorphological study. With a monosymptomatic (only the presence of macroheilitis) course of Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome, a differential diagnosis is carried out with angioedema Quincke, lymphangioma, hemangioma, lip abscess and other cheilitis.

The clinical picture of dermatosis is localized on the face and is a significant problem, significantly affecting the social status of patients and is highly threatened in relation to the development of dysmorphophobia.

The presented clinical case is rare in the practice of a dermatologist, patients with a similar pathology turn to dentists, allergists, where the clinical picture is regarded as Quincke’s edema. Given the rare occurrence of Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome in the population and the difficulty of diagnosing the disease, the presented clinical case is indicative, since in our case the patient has only 2 main symptoms (folded tongue, macrocheilitis) and there is no clinical picture of facial neuritis.

Timely diagnosis and a thorough examination of patients with Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome contribute to the greatest effectiveness of therapy and the achievement of a stable remission of the disease.