[Cheilitis granulomatosa as the first manifestation of Crohn's disease]

A 39-year-old man developed a painless swelling of the lower lip, which histologically was a granulomatous inflammation of the corium as in granulomatous cheilitis. Four weeks after onset of the disease recurrent diarrhoea set in, the result of Crohn's disease of the jejunum, terminal ileum and caecum. Granulomatous cheilitis, occurring as sole sign of the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, is a manifestation of Crohn's disease. Even if there are no intestinal symptoms. Crohn's disease must be excluded in the differential diagnosis.