Cheilitis granulomatosa. Successful treatment with combined local triamcinolone injections and surgery

Cheilitis granulomatosa is a rare condition that has traditionally proved difficult to treat satisfactorily. Excellent results were obtained in our case with local triamcinolone acetonide injections and surgery. Histopathologic features of the classic, untreated condition were reviewed and compared to the histopathologic features of labial tissues after a seris of triamcinolone injections. It was found that the injected medication was effective in achieving some reduction of labial volume, apparently through a necrotizing effect of granulomas with subsequent replacement by fibrous scars. Discontinuation of local injections after initial surgery apparently contributed to an exacerbation, as shown by the histopathology of a second cheiloplastic procedure. We therefore recommended that patients with chelitis granulomatosa who are receiving combinaed triamcinolone-surgical therapy continue to receive local triamcinolone injections after surgery in order to minimize the tendency for recurrence.