Melkersson Rosenthal Syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Melkersson Rosenthal Syndrome (MRS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by swelling of the face, particularly one or both lips (granulomatous cheilitis), facial muscle weakness (palsy) and a fissured tongue. We present a patient with Melkersson Rosenthal Syndrome, highlighting the clinical triad of symptoms and management. A74-year-old Nigerian male presented to the Oral Medicine Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for evaluation of right-sided facial numbness, inability to close the right eye, left facial deviation suggestive of a lower motor neuron type facial palsy of 4 days, and painless swelling of the upper and lower lips for seven days. On examination, he was found to have swelling of the upper and lower lips, multiple fissures on the tongue, right facial paresthesia, and an isolated right-sided facial nerve paralysis. He was empirically managed with 50mg prednisone daily for seven days, which was tapered over two weeks and neurobion 1 tablet daily for a month. This resulted in remission of lip swelling, however fissured tongue remained. Two months later, facial deviation had become less apparent. Patient is being followed up in the outpatient clinic. Melkersson Rosenthal Syndrome is a rare disorder with features of facial swelling, facial nerve palsy and fissured tongue. Some affected individuals may have all three of these features and others may have only one or two. The diagnosis of MRS can be made clinically when there is a complete triad of symptoms as reported in our patient.

Keywords: Melkersson Rosenthal Syndrome, clinical symptoms, management