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Glandular cheilitis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Glandular cheilitis is more common in men, mostly 50-60 years.
ICD-10 code
K13.01 Glandular cheilitis apostematous.
[How is glandular cheilitis manifested?
Primary simple glandular cheilitis
An independent disease, which many researchers consider as heterogony, i.e. Congenital hypertrophy of small salivary glands embedded in the mucous membrane and the transitional zone of the lips.
On the surface of the lips in the form of reddish dots, open holes of small salivary glands are gaping, above which the accumulation of saliva in the form of drops ("dew symptom") is determined. Hypertrophic small salivary glands are probed in the thickness of the mucous membrane of the mouth in the form of dense rounded formations the size of a pinhead or slightly larger (normally these small glands are hardly noticeable and their mucous-serous secret is secreted in scant amounts).
When the lips are irritated with microbial dental plaque, abundant hard dental deposits, sharp edges of teeth, prostheses or in contact with purulent periodontal pockets, inflammatory phenomena develop in the gland outlets. Inflammation can be sustained by the continuous release of saliva, which leads to maceration of the lips. Drying, the lip becomes covered with scales, cracks and keratinized. On the mucosa, this manifests itself first by a white rim around the gaping holes, and then, merging, a continuous foci of hyperkeratoea is formed. Sometimes a complication develops in the form of an eczematous reaction of the red border and the skin of the perioral region, a chronic lip crack.
Simple grandular cheilitis refers to background diseases that promote the development of precancerous changes on the red border of the lips.
Secondary simple glandular cheilitis
It can occur as a result of chronic inflammatory processes on the red border of the lips. Hyperplasia of the salivary glands is not associated with congenital pathology, but is secondary in nature.
The enlarged gaping openings of the salivary gland ducts are determined on the background of the primary lip disease (eg, CPL, lupus erythematosus),
As a result of joining the pyogenic infection, suppuration is possible, which is manifested by a sharp edema, painful lips. The mucous membrane is tense, hyperemic, on the surface of it there are droplets of pus from the gaping excretory ducts. In the thickness of the lips, dense, inflammatory infiltrates are palpable. The lip is covered with purulent crusts, the mouth does not close. Regional lymph nodes are enlarged, painful.
How to recognize glandular cheilitis?
Diagnosis is based on the clinical picture and the pathomorphological study data.
When histologically examined, hypertrophied salivary glands with small inflammatory infiltration around the excretory ducts are identified.
How is glandular cheilitis treated?
Treatment of simple glandular cheilitis is necessary for complaints of continuous salivation, as well as inflammatory phenomena from the side of the mucous membrane and the red border of the lips.
The most reliable method of treatment is the electrocoagulation of the salivary glands through the hair electrode in the duct of the gland. This method of treatment is possible with a small number of hypertrophied glands. In the case of multiple lesions, cryodestruction or surgical excision of practically the entire Klein zone is possible.
With secondary glandular cheilitis, the main disease is treated.