Cheek Started Shrinking Inside, Looks Like Bruise. Planning For Biopsy. Any Suggestion?

Posted on Thu, 4 Apr 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 Answered on

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : My husbands cheek suddenly sunk like a finger was pushing it in and looks dark or bruised. Dentist found nothing dental about it but does see a dark spot above his mandible where it is sunken in. A biopsy is planned. What could it be?

Answered by Dr. Praveen Rodrigues (4 hours later)

Hi there.
I read your history & note the issue at hand.
It could just be a condition called erythema induratum or a hematoma arising out of a cheek bite that was innocuous but left behind a puckered scarring; morphea is a condition that merits mention.
However, i must stress that this requires to look at the person in toto. Going by your history of phaeochromoctoma & prostratic issues, one needs to be careful to rule out any underlying systemic disorder. This however seems unlikely & you can rest assured this is an isolated local phenomenon.
I think your approach of doing the skin biopsy is the 'right' one & an excision of the lesion will give you a clear cut picture. Good Luck & GodSpeed!
Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar