title: Cheilitis glandularis: a clinicopathological study in 22 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cheilitis glandularis (CG) is a condition in which thick saliva is secreted by minor labial salivary glands and adheres to a swollen lip causing discomfort to the patient. Most publications refer to single case reports or small case series.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to report and to analyze clinical, pathological, and therapeutic data on 22 patients with CG seen at the department of dermatology at our university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data about 22 patients with CG are reviewed and presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were male and 5 were female. All were fair skinned, including 6 albino individuals. Several of them presented significant signs of photodamage on the lips. Surgical treatment was performed in 10 severely affected patients and consisted of a vermilionectomy followed by minor salivary gland removal. Histopathological study revealed various degrees of chronic sialadenitis and vermilion epithelial changes. Superficially invasive and in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the vermilion was detected in 3 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biopsy and surgery were not performed in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CG is strongly related to sun sensitivity and may be more severe in albino patients. The swollen, sun-exposed lip may become more susceptible to the occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcello Menta Simonsen
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nico
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakano de Melo
authors.forename: Silvia Vanessa
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lourenço
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000417:Albinism / Q000150:complications; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology*; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome