[Isolated congenital lower lip fistulas].

BACKGROUND

Congenital lip fistulas are very rare and may occur alone or in combination with oral clefts and other dysontogenetic malformations. The etiology of congenital lip fistulas is not yet known.

PATIENT AND METHOD: We present a 7-year-old boy with recurrent infections of bilateral congenital fistulas of the lower lip. There were no associated congenital anomalies and a negative family history. An elliptical excision of the fistulas under microscopic control gave satisfactory functional and esthetic results. There was no recurrence two years after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Since the possibility of additional severe malformations exists for the patient and the patient's children patients should undergo careful ENT and pediatric assessment, and genetic counselling should be considered. In order to achieve good functional and esthetic results, the corrective operation must be planned carefully taking into consideration important surgical principles.