Objectives
Cheilitis Glandularis (CG) is an uncommon entity of obscure etiology. A cases series is presented with emphasis on etiopathogenesis.
Materials and Methods
Fourteen CG cases were analyzed according to their demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics.
Results
The mean age of the patients with CG was 68.1 years, while a male‐to‐female ratio of 1.8:1 was observed. One or more potential causative factors were identified for each patient, including long‐term smoking (9 cases), xerostomia (4 cases), cosmetic filler injections (2 cases), and actinic cheilitis (1 case). The lesions were located on the lips, buccal mucosa, or both in 7, 2, and 5 cases, respectively. Multiple submucosal nodules with dilated ductal orifices and mucous or purulent discharge were observed in all cases. Histopathologically, ductal ectasia with metaplasia, intraductal mucin, and chronic or mixed inflammation were noted, as well as pools of hyaluronic acid in 2 cases with a history of cosmetic filler injections.
Conclusions
CG etiopathogenesis is probably multifactorial. Reduced salivary flow rate and increased viscosity of saliva, potentially caused by long‐term smoking, diabetes mellitus, and drug‐induced xerostomia, may participate in the initial pathogenesis, while local irritants, for example, poor oral hygiene and local trauma, may further contribute to the development and aggravation of the condition.
Tobacco smoking is a major public health issue with far‐reaching implications on the global economy. Electronic cigarettes are advertised as a new promising cessation treatment that can gratify the behavioural aspects of smoking. However, there are still many unanswered questions regarding e‐cigarette’s safety and effects on general and oral health. We report a case of a 68‐year‐old Caucasian male patient with a large ulcerative lesion on the hard palate that was possibly associated with the use of an electronic cigarette.
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