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DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1639946
The thick tongue – a rare differential diagnosis
Background:
Amyloidosis manifests in up to 20% of the cases in head and neck. This leads to different symptoms depending on the affected tissue. The diagnosis is confirmed by histological detection of amyloid deposits in Congo red stain in a polarizing microscope. ENT-medical therapy is only one component of the necessary interdisciplinary treatment.
Objectives:
Presentation of the different manifestations in the field of ENT and necessary interdisciplinary diagnostics.
Case Series:
Case presentation of a female patient with amyloidotic macroglossia in multiple myeloma. The diagnosis turned out to be a histological incidental finding during the endoscopic examination in suspected squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. The multiple myeloma could be confirmed chemically and with bone marrow puncture.
Conclusion:
Amyloidosis in the ENT area is a rare and clinically challenging disease. Diagnosis should be considered for unusual appearing lesions and requires interdisciplinary treatment beyond the ENT area.
Publication History
Publication Date:
23 May 2018 (online)
© 2018. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York