Clinicopathologic analysis of orofacial granulomatosis: A 19-case report

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological features of orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) and possible mechanism of its localized edema. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 19 cases of OFG were retrospectively analyzed. And immunohistochemical staining of CD68, CD31 and D2-40 was also analyzed. Results: 19 cases of OFG included 7 males and 12 females, aged 13 to 76 years old, with an average age of 50.32 years. Involvement of the lip accounted for 100% of the patients. The primary manifestation of OFG was persistent, non-pitting edematous erythema, and its histopathological feature was non-caseating epithelioid granulomas in the dermis. The granulomas around and within D2-40 positive lymphatic vessels were found in 17 cases (89.47%) and 13 cases (68.42%), respectively. Conclusion: OFG may involve multiple sites of the face, and epithelioid granuloma is its main pathological feature. Lymphatic blockage and impaired lymphatic drainage are the pathological mechanisms of its swelling.