Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. Case report.

Abstract

The Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome (MRS) is the simultaneous appearance of a furrowed tongue, a soft tissue hypertrophy of the face or lips, a peripheral facial nerve palsy. The etiopathology remains unknown. The histology gives a major help for the diagnosis, either by eliminating all other causes of “thick lips” or by showing either non specific inflammatory granulomas or tuberculoid type granulomas. Treatments based on medication don't seem to be efficient. Intralesional injections of steroids show variable results.The plastic surgery can only be applied to the lesions of the lips and is only efficient for a longer time if it is preceded and followed by a systemic corticotherapy. Before appealing to the plastic surgeon, it seems wise to try cyclines, non steroid antiinflammatory drugs, clofazimine ... and to wait. In some case a wait and see policy is a good alternative. The lesions may resolve spontaneously. What follows is a synopsis of what has already been written on the subject, beginning with the observation of an 18 years old patient who consulted for “thick lips” and presented a Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.