Orofacial Granulomatosis
Pronunciation: or-oh-FAY-shul gran-yoo-loh-mah-TOH-sis
A chronic inflammatory condition characterised by non-caseating granulomas affecting the soft tissues of the mouth and face, presenting with lip swelling, mucosal tags, or cobblestoning.
Full Definition
Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a term used to describe persistent or recurring granulomatous inflammation of the orofacial tissues without an identified systemic cause. Histologically it shows non-caseating granulomas similar to those seen in Crohn's disease and sarcoidosis, which must be excluded before a diagnosis of OFG is made. Clinical features include labial or facial oedema, linear ulceration, mucosal tags, and a cobblestone texture of the buccal mucosa. Editors must take care to distinguish OFG from Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome, which is a related but more specifically defined triad. The term should always be rendered as one word ('granulomatosis') and not hyphenated.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate the compound modifier 'orofacial' as a single unhyphenated adjective before the noun. Do not abbreviate to 'OG'; the accepted abbreviation is 'OFG'.
In Context
- "The biopsy confirmed non-caseating granulomas consistent with orofacial granulomatosis after systemic causes were excluded." — Histopathology report
- "OFG should be listed in the differential diagnosis whenever persistent lip oedema is documented." — Clinical case notes