Leukemic macrocheilitis associated with hairy-cell leukemia and the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome

Specific cutaneous infiltrates in hairy-cell leukemia have distinctive histopathologic and histochemical findings. The true incidence of leukemia cutis in hairy-cell leukemia is uncertain, however, because reports often fail to document these distinctive features. A case of leukemic macrocheilitis associated with hairy-cell leukemia and the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is presented. The Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is a clinically defined entity composed of Bell's palsy, macrocheilitis, and lingua plicata. Granulomatous cheilitis is often seen on histopathologic examination of the swollen lip tissue; in some cases, however, the findings may be nonspecific. Neoplastic macrocheilitis has not been reported in Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. Furthermore, leukemic macrocheilitis has not been reported in hairy-cell leukemia. A possible relationship between these entities is proposed.