[Ultrastructure of Manganotti cheilitis]

Electron-microscopic examination of 5 cases with histological diagnosis of Manganotti's cheilitis was made. As distinct from other types of heilitis, disintegration of the basement membrane (up to its disappearance in some areas) and pronounced changes in the basement layer of the epithelium are characteristic for this type. Shedding of plasmalemms, a decrease of desmosomal complexes, appearance of microvilli were seen in the basal cells of the epithelium. A pronounced reaction of blood and connective tissue cells which invade basal and spinous layer of the epithelium was observed.