Case report

Factitious cheilitis: a case report

Erdinc Aydin¹ , Ozgur Gokoglu¹ , Gamze Ozcurumez² and Hakan Aydin³

¹  Baskent University Department of Otolaryngology, Ankara, Turkey

²  Baskent University Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey

³  Baskent University Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:29doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-29

Published:	29 January 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Factitious cheilitis is a chronic condition characterized by crusting and ulceration that is probably secondary to chewing and sucking of the lips. Atopy, actinic damage, exfoliative cheilitis, cheilitis granulomatosa or glandularis, contact dermatitis, photosensitivity reactions and neoplasia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of crusted and ulcerated lesions of the lip.

Case presentation

We present a 56 year-old female with an ulcerated and crusted lesion on her lower lip. The biopsy showed granulation tissue and associated inflammation but no malignancy. Based on the tissue examination and through clinical evaluation the diagnosis of factitious cheilitis was rendered.

Conclusion

Thorough clinical history, utilization of basic laboratory tests and histopathologic evaluation are required to exclude other diseases and a thoruough psychiatric evaluation and treatment is vital for successful management of these patients.