TY - JOUR
T1 - Two rare cases of laryngeal intralymphatic histiocytosis
AU - Reznitsky, Martin
AU - Daugaard, Søren
AU - Charabi, Birgitte Wittenborg
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - We report two rare cases of intralymphatic histiocytosis causing, respectively, recurrent and persistent episodes of upper airway swelling and breathing difficulties. Case 1 was a 39-year-old man who was referred with recurrent upper airway swelling causing difficulty in breathing. A direct laryngoscopy was performed under general anesthesia due to minimal effect from treatment with antibiotics and anti-oedema medication. On examination, the larynx was found to be swollen and oedematous but not inflamed. Biopsies from the aryepiglottic folds showed intralymphatic histiocytosis. The patient was extensively examined but the only abnormal finding was a low CD4 count. The breathing difficulties fluctuated during the diagnostic process and settled after a year. Case 2 was a 35-year-old man who presented with persistent laryngeal swelling. Biopsies from the epiglottis showed intralymphatic histiocytosis. Extensive investigations were performed but discovered no abnormal findings. He received CO2 laser treatment twice and the swelling decreased. Intralymphatic histiocytosis is extremely rare in upper airway pathology. It is an important differential diagnosis in patients with recurrent and chronic laryngeal swelling and dyspnoea.
AB - We report two rare cases of intralymphatic histiocytosis causing, respectively, recurrent and persistent episodes of upper airway swelling and breathing difficulties. Case 1 was a 39-year-old man who was referred with recurrent upper airway swelling causing difficulty in breathing. A direct laryngoscopy was performed under general anesthesia due to minimal effect from treatment with antibiotics and anti-oedema medication. On examination, the larynx was found to be swollen and oedematous but not inflamed. Biopsies from the aryepiglottic folds showed intralymphatic histiocytosis. The patient was extensively examined but the only abnormal finding was a low CD4 count. The breathing difficulties fluctuated during the diagnostic process and settled after a year. Case 2 was a 35-year-old man who presented with persistent laryngeal swelling. Biopsies from the epiglottis showed intralymphatic histiocytosis. Extensive investigations were performed but discovered no abnormal findings. He received CO2 laser treatment twice and the swelling decreased. Intralymphatic histiocytosis is extremely rare in upper airway pathology. It is an important differential diagnosis in patients with recurrent and chronic laryngeal swelling and dyspnoea.
U2 - 10.1007/s00405-015-3625-6
DO - 10.1007/s00405-015-3625-6
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 25870125
SN - 0937-4477
VL - 273
SP - 783
EP - 788
JO - European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
JF - European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
IS - 3
ER -