Extreme Eyelid Lymphedema Associated With Rosacea (Morbihan Disease): Case Series, Literature Review, and Therapeutic Considerations

S2k guideline: Rosacea

This updated and upgraded S2k guideline deals with the diagnosis and treatment of rosacea, which is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease mostly affecting the face. Initially, rosacea is characterized by recurrent erythema, telangiectasia and flushing. Later, the inflammatory component predominates, with persistent erythema with follicular papules, papulopustules and pustules. The development of phyma, which usually occurs on the acral localizations, is the most severe manifestation. For the treatment of rosacea, the interdisciplinary guideline committee, with representatives of the German Dermatological Society (DDG), the Professional Association of German Dermatologists (BVDD), the German Opthalmological Society (DOG), the Society for Dermopharmacy (GD), the Swiss Society for Dermatology and Venereology (SGDV) and the German Rosacea Aid e. V., recommends the avoidance of trigger factors and topical applications of metronidazole, azelaic acid or ivermectin. For symptomatic treatment of persistent centrofacial erythema, the topical vasoconstrictors brimonidine or oxymetazoline can also be used. Systemic therapy is recommended for therapy-resistant and severe forms of rosacea papulopustulosa. The drug of choice is low-dose doxycycline. Alternatively, low-dose isotretinoin can be recommended. Ocular rosacea should be treated with lid margin hygiene. For topical treatment, ciclosporin eye drops, azithromycin, ivermectin or metronidazole are suggested.

Progressive disfiguring facial masses with pupillary axis obstruction from Morbihan syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUND

Morbihan syndrome is a rare illness, which presents with recurrent pitting edema on the upper two thirds of the face causing facial contour deformities, and Morbihan syndrome obstructing the pupillary axis with ptosis was seldomly reported.

CASE SUMMARY

A 59-year-old woman presented with a 15-year history of facial swelling that progressively invaded bilaterally from the inner canthus and eyelids outwards. Imaging examination indicated that the bilateral periorbital and the left temporal soft tissues had swelling without cranium invasion. Histopathological analysis showed a large amount of lymphocyte infiltration, and immunohistochemistry showed positive expression of CD68 in clear-cut granulomas and D2-40 in the lymphatic endothelium. Finally, the clinical diagnosis of Morbihan syndrome was confirmed.

CONCLUSION

Morbihan syndrome is an infrequent and refractory disease, which is characteristic with recurrent woody facial edema on the upper two thirds of the face. Solid facial edema is persistent and non-pitting, causing facial contour deformities and even vision field impairment. The diagnosis of Morbihan syndrome depends on clinical features, imaging information, and pathology. Blepharoplasty is optional to improve the visual field for these patients with severe pupillary axis obstruction.

Surgical Lymphoedema Treatment of Morbihan Disease: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Morbihan disease is a rare condition characterized by persistent erythema and solid edema of the upper two thirds of the face, leading to visual impairment and significant esthetic disfigurement. The underlying etiology of the disease remains uncertain, but its correlation with lymphoedema has been conjectured. Definitive treatment options are also lacking, and most current topical, systemic, and surgical interventions provide transient or partial results.In this report, we describe a case of Morbihan disease in a 32-year-old man. He suffered from erythema and swelling over the left periorbital region for 6 years, and was diagnosed with Morbihan disease. As the edema was unresponsive to drug therapy, he was referred to our department. Indocyanine green lymphography was performed, and the diagnosis of facial lymphoedema was confirmed. Manual lymphatic drainage was not effective, so we proceeded with surgical procedures. Lymphaticovenous anastomosis was performed to improve lymphatic drainage, and blepharoplasty was performed to debulk the enlarged tissue of lymphoedema. The visual field improved significantly, and the patient remains free from reexpansion of the lesion during the 1-year follow-up.The surgical approach for lymphoedema treatment can be a viable option for severe Morbihan disease unresponsive to nonsurgical therapies.

Treatment Options for Lower Eyelid Festoons

Festoons represent a combination of fluid accumulation and soft tissue laxity in the superolateral cheek. They remain a difficult entity to treat. The ideal treatment for festoons would possess minimal invasiveness and recovery time, and predictably improve the condition. No nonsurgical treatment currently meets these criteria, and surgical treatments have significant limitations. Fortunately, a variety of treatment options exist that can benefit each patient and be tailored to their specific needs. Knowledge of the underlying anatomy, clinical characteristics, and clinical evaluation will better equip the treating physician to manage festoons.

Edemas of the face and lymphoscintigraphic examination

Facial edemas not secondary to surgery and/or radiotherapy for head and neck cancer are relatively uncommon. Our aim is to report a retrospective analysis of the lymphoscintigraphic and SPECT-CT investigations obtained in patients with such facial edema. Retrospective review of exams (planar imagings in all and with SPECT-CT in 5) obtained after the subcutaneous injection of 99mTc HSA Nanosized colloids between the eyebrows in five men and seven women. Four main lymphatic pathways were identified on sequential planar imagings: para-nasal left and right and supra- ocular left and right. For eleven patients, the absence of visualization of lymphatic drainage and/or their delayed appearance correlated well with the localisation of the edematous areas. In two patients with post-traumatic and post- surgical edemas, SPECT-CT showed one deep left sided cervical lymph node (LN) in front of the first cervical vertebra. This lymphoscintigraphic approach represents a simple and valuable way to assess the lymphatic drainage pathways of the face and to establish the diagnosis of facial lymphedema.

A Navajo Patient with Morbihan's Disease: Insight into Oculoplastic Treatment of a Rare Disease

Morbihan’s disease is classically defined as primarily a Caucasian disease of chronic, recurrent erythema and nonpitting edema of the middle and upper thirds of the face. The disease is often difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Medical management is the primary treatment modality; however, if there is progression of the disease that causes visual impairment, surgical debulking is often required. We present the first reported case of Morbihan’s disease in a Navajo patient in conjunction with a review of the literature on surgical management of this challenging disease.

Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Study of 14 Cases of Morbihan Disease: An Insight Into Its Pathogenesis

INTRODUCTION

Morbihan disease (MORD) is rare with only 45 clear-cut cases previously reported. Histopathologic findings are supposed to be nonspecific. We report 14 patients and review the previous cases.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the clinicopathologic findings, outcomes, and immunophenotype of MORD.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Inclusion criteria were a clinical picture of persistent, nonpitting edema affecting the mid and or upper third of the face and histopathological findings fitting previous reports and exclusion of other entities.

RESULTS

The majority of our patients were males (71.5%) with a male/female ratio of 10/4. The mean age when diagnosed was 58.8 years. Eyelids and forehead were the most frequently involved areas. Two of the patients presented previous rosacea. Most constant histopathological findings were lymphatic vessel dilatations in the upper dermis and the presence of mast cells (7.5 in 10 high-power field as a mean). Mild edema was also present in most of the cases. Granulomas were found in 7 of the cases, and immunostaining with CD68 and CD14 only revealed an additional case.

CONCLUSIONS

MORD occurs more in middle-aged males, not associated with rosacea and mostly affects eyelids and forehead. Granulomas are not mandatory for the diagnosis. Histopathology of MORD fits within the spectrum of localized lymphedema.

Complete Decongestive Therapy Is an Option for the Treatment of Rosacea Lymphedema (Morbihan Disease): Two Cases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Morbihan disease, also known as rosacea lymphedema, is a rare persistent form of lymphedema that is associated with the disease rosacea. Even though acne rosacea responds well to standard medical treatment, the lymphedema component of the disease is resistant to both medical and surgical therapy. Complete decongestive therapy (CDT) can be considered as a conservative alternative option for treatment of rosacea lymphedema. To date, there is no report on the use of CDT in treating facial lymphedema secondary to acne rosacea.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We present 2 cases of women with a diagnosis of Morbihan disease and chronic facial lymphedema that remained resistant to drug treatment for many years before CDT was offered. The treatment program included 4 components: manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, exercises to enhance lymphatic drainage, and patient education.

OUTCOMES

Following 10 to 15 sessions of CDT, the first patient's facial edema had almost completely resolved. The second patient's response to treatment was assessed as moderate.

DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, these 2 cases of Morbihan disease treated with CDT are the first of their kind to be presented in the literature. As the treatment options for Morbihan disease remain inadequate, we believe that CDT should be considered as a treatment option in those patients who do not benefit from or refuse drug treatment, before moving on to more invasive procedures. Prospective studies should be designed to demonstrate the efficacy of CDT and provide management details.

Cutaneous Angiosarcoma of the Eyelid Mimicking Morbihan Disease

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous angiosarcoma presents clinically in numerous ways, and can be mistaken for a different clinical entity, particularly when arising at unusual anatomic locations such as the eyelid.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 57-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of eyelid swelling. Concurrent imaging was also suggestive of an edematous process. Multiple superficial biopsies showed nonspecific dermal inflammation and interstitial edema. A diagnosis of Morbihan disease (chronic and idiopathic lymphedema of the eyelid) was rendered, and the patient was treated with compression and local therapy without clinical improvement. Three years after initial presentation, a diagnostic blepharoplasty was performed revealing a deep dermal vascular proliferation composed of anastomosing vascular channels with an atypical endothelial lining. A diagnosis of cutaneous angiosarcoma was ultimately made.

CONCLUSIONS

This case illustrates a unique presentation of cutaneous angiosarcoma and the implications of different biopsy techniques in acquiring the correct diagnosis.

Efficacy of long-term intralesional triamcinolone in Morbihan's disease and its possible association with mast cell infiltration

Morbihan's disease is characterized by chronic persistent facial edema of the upper half of the face, absence of typical diagnostic findings, and refractoriness to treatment. A 44-year-old man was diagnosed with Morbihan's disease based on clinical signs and histopathology, which showed dermal edema in upper dermis, discrete lymphocytic infiltrate without granulomatous reaction, and mast cell infiltration. After long-term therapy with intralesional triamcinolone a remarkable objective and subjective clinical response was observed. Reported cases of Morbihan's disease are reviewed, with respect to their treatment and histopathological findings. Mast cell infiltration has been observed on histopathology in most patients who responded to intralesional triamcinolone, suggesting a possible marker of response. The long-lasting response seen in our case indicates the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone in this rare condition.

Swiss S1 guideline for the treatment of rosacea

Rosacea (in German sometimes called 'Kupferfinne', in French 'Couperose' and in Italian 'Copparosa') is a chronic and frequently relapsing inflammatory skin disease primarily affecting the central areas of the face. Its geographic prevalence varies from 1% to 22%. The differential diagnosis is wide, and the treatment is sometimes difficult and varies by stage of rosacea. For erythematous lesions and telangiectasia, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy and lasers are popular treatment option. In addition, a vasoconstrictor agent, brimonidine, has recently been developed. For papulopustular rosacea, topical antibiotics, topical and systemic retinoids, as well as systemic antibiotics are used. A topical acaricidal agent, ivermectin, has undergone clinical development and is now on the market. In the later stages, hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands develops, resulting in phymatous growths such as the frequently observed bulbous nose or rhinophyma. Ablative laser treatments have largely replaced classical abrasive tools. Here, we reviewed the current evidence on the treatment of rosacea, provide a guideline (S1 level) and discuss the differential diagnosis of rosacea.