A case of sclerosing lymphangitis of the lip

A 62-year-old woman noted a cord-like swelling on the inner surface of her upper lip. A cross-section of the lesion showed a radial-shaped lumen surrounded by a thickened fibrous wall. Immunohistochemical staining with the anti-factor VIII-related antigen (FVIII-RAg) antibody was negative on the luminal surface and swollen wall, although the vasa vasorum in the swollen wall were positive. The lesion was thus considered to be of lymphatic origin; that is, it derived from a lymphatic collecting vessel. For the present case, the term 'lymphangiopathia obliterans' is considered appropriate. This is the second report of such a lesion appearing on the lip in the literature.