Macrocheilia due to lymphangiectasia.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dermatology
• Vascular Malformations

Background:

• Macrocheilia, or lip enlargement, can stem from various causes, including congenital and acquired conditions.
• Lymphangiectasia, characterized by dilated lymphatic vessels, is a recognized but not fully understood cause of macrocheilia.
• Establishing a primary cause for pathological macrocheilia remains a challenge in many cases.

Observation:

• A case of symmetrical, diffuse macrocheilia is presented.
• The condition was attributed to lymphangiectasia of the lip.
• No definitive primary etiology was identified for this specific instance of macrocheilia.

Findings:

• Surgical intervention using transverse mucosal wedge resection of the lip with mucosal advancement was performed.
• This surgical technique proved to be a satisfactory method for treating the macrocheilia.
• The procedure effectively addressed the lip enlargement caused by lymphangiectasia.

Implications:

• Transverse mucosal wedge resection with mucosal advancement is a viable and effective surgical option for managing macrocheilia secondary to lymphangiectasia.
• Further research may be needed to elucidate the underlying causes of idiopathic macrocheilia.
• This case highlights the importance of considering vascular malformations in the differential diagnosis of lip enlargement.