Laryngeal sarcoidosis: presentation and management in the pediatric population

Rare Diseases of Larynx, Trachea and Thyroid

This review article covers data on rare diseases of the larynx, the trachea and the thyroid. In particular, congenital malformations, rare manifestations of inflammatory laryngeal disorders, benign and malignant epithelial as well as non-epithelial tumors, laryngeal and tracheal manifestations of general diseases and, finally, thyroid disorders are discussed. The individual chapters contain an overview of the data situation in the literature, the clinical appearance of each disorder, important key points for diagnosis and therapy and a statement on the prognosis of the disease. Finally, the authors indicate on study registers and self-help groups.

Treatment-recalcitrant laryngeal sarcoidosis responsive to sirolimus

A 15-year-old girl presented with gradual-onset dysphonia and dysphagia. Laryngoscopy revealed significant supraglottic airway obstruction with swelling of both the epiglottis and arytenoids. After emergency tracheostomy, biopsy of the epiglottis revealed lymphoid hyperplasia with focal non-necrotising granulomata, leading to a presumed diagnosis of laryngeal sarcoidosis. Treatment with prednisolone and methotrexate produced minimal clinical improvement. A switch to sirolimus was followed by significant reduction in the laryngeal swelling, allowing decannulation of the tracheostomy. Treatment with sirolimus should be considered as a steroid sparing agent in laryngeal sarcoidosis, particularly in the presence of lymphoid hyperplasia on biopsy.

Laryngeal Sarcoidosis in a Child: Case Report

Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystemic, granulomatous disorder. Our patient was a 2-year-old girl with multiple airway conditions and a partial response to inhaled and systemic steroids. She was positive for acute phase reactants and negative for antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction revealed atypical Mycobacteria and she was negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Laryngeal sarcoidosis was diagnosed by histopathology in a biopsy of larynx that revealed a chronic granulomatous inflammatory process with Langhans giant cells and acute and ulcerated areas with changes compatible with tuberculosis. Treatment consisted of monthly gammaglobulin for 6 months at doses of 2g/kg body weight, accompanied by Valmetrol™ and methotrexate. Immunomodulation with gammaglobulin was prescribed, with subsequent use of methotrexate-based immunosuppression. Currently, bronchoscopy shows no evidence of granulomas and she is negative for acute-phase reactants.