2022 Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 206-211
A 70-year-old man presented with two months history of erythema and erosions on his lower lip that was resistant to treatment with oral antibacterial agents, ointments containing antibacterial agents, antihistamines, and topical steroids. On physical examination, the lesion on his lower lip consisted of erythema, erosions, ulcers, and blood crusts. Histopathologically, infiltration of numerous plasma cells in the dermis was observed. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that plasma cells were a mixture of immunoglobulin κ- and λ-chain positive cells. On the basis of these findings, he was diagnosed with plasma cell cheilitis. He was treated with intralesional injection of corticosteroids, and after 16 doses, remission was achieved for more than one year. Plasma cell cheilitis is a relatively rare benign disease and its etiology is still not clear. Recently, several cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising from plasma cell cheilitis have been reported. Therefore, early diagnosis by appropriate skin biopsy, treatment intervention in early stage, and careful monitoring are important. When the lesion is intractable with topical steroids, intralesional injection of corticosteroids should be considered. Skin Research, 21 : 206-211, 2022
