title: Granulomatous glossitis as an unusual manifestation of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.
abstract: The case of a 59-year-old man with granulomatous glossitis is presented. The patient complained of increasing swelling of his tongue for years and a recent onset of perioral edema. Because of sarcoid-like granulomas found in a first lingual biopsy specimen, the disease was initially misdiagnosed as a localized form of sarcoidosis. A second biopsy specimen from the tongue revealed lymphonodular-plasmocytic granuloma-like infiltrates, which, in connection with the labial swelling, led to the diagnosis of Schuermann's glossitis granulomatosa as a peculiar manifestation of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. The surface of the tongue showed deep furrows characteristic of lingua plicata. However, no history or signs of facial or trigeminal nerve paralysis were present; thus the patient did not show the complete triad of symptoms typical of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. After treatment with clofazimine the perioral and lingual swelling disappeared within two weeks. Recurrences have been suppressed with a reduced maintenance dosage of this agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Mahler
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Hornstein
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Boateng
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Kiesewetter
mesh_terms: D002991:Clofazimine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005928:Glossitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008556:Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002991:Clofazimine