A rare cause of chronic rhinosinusitis

Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease which predominantly affects the lung. Since sinunasal sarcoidosis is rare, little is known about the sarcoidosis manifestation at this site. Therefore, the aim of our study was to detect the prevalence of sinunasal sarcoidosis, its clinical occurrence, diagnosis and therapy in a selected collective of patients.

Methods:

Database of all patients visiting Otorhinolaryngology Departments of the University in Göttingen and in Bonn between 2003 and 2016 was searched for the diagnosis of sinunodal sarcoidosis. A retrospective analysis of clinical symptoms, time to diagnosis, histological reports and treatment regimens was conducted.

Results:

Thirteen patients with a biopsy-proven sinunasal sarcoidosis were identified. Most patients presented unspecific clinical symptoms which are also found in acute and chronic sinusitis. In none of the patients the diagnosis of sinunasal sarcoidosis was suspected by the ENT doctor before histological validation. The mean diagnosis lag time amounted to 262 ± 195 days. In four of six patients transferred to the Pneumology Department additional pulmonary involvement was detected.

Conclusions:

Sinunasal sarcoidosis remains very often underdiagnosed because of its rare prevalence and uncharacteristic clinical symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to detect all its manifestations.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 May 2018 (online)