Gnatophyma and Otophyma

Abstract

This case report describes a relatively rare gnatophyma and otophyma. Surgical management is well accepted as the best mode of therapy to treat rhinophyma and is becoming a first-line treatment for all phymas.

Two Cases of Gnatophyma, an Unusual Form of Rosacea

“…Gnatophyma is a sporadically identified phyma variant in the literature with both clinical and histopathological characteristics which is difficult to diagnose because of the rarity of its occurrence. Gnatophyma may appear alone or coexist with rosacea lesions [4,5,6]. It has been rarely reported indeed.…”

Gnatophyma: a rare form of rosacea

“…4 Gnatophyma has been rarely reported, there are only three cases in the scientific literature, and it may manifest alone or coexist with rosacea lesions. 4,5,6 In those reported cases, one patient is male and two are female, and all of them have injuries exclusively on the chin. The patient reported here is female and also has lesions exclusively on the chin.…”

“…7 Demodex was found in two of three cases mentioned in scientific literature and its presence in rosacea may be due to localized immune deficiency caused by lymphoedema and / or Demodex could serve as a source for antigenic persistent inflammation. 4,5,6 These hypotheses explain the predisposition to the development of skin cancer on phyma. 7 There are few reports in literature that show association between rosacea and dental diseases.…”

“…1,2,3 To treat the severe type of phyma one can make use of carbon dioxide laser and surgery. 3,4,5,6 Due to the rare occurrence of gnatophyma, the ideal treatment still represents a challenge. The treatment prescribed was tetracycline 1g / day, ivermectin 12 mg single dose, and metronidazole cream 1%.…”

“…1,2 Phyma is considered the last evolution stage of rosacea. 1-6 It affects mostly men and is characterized by fibrosis, sebaceous glands hyperplasia and lymphedema. 3 It most frequently affects the nose (rhinophyma), and rarely the chin (gnatophyma), forehead (metophyma), ears (otophyma) and eyelids (blepharophyma).…”