A Case Report and Systematic Review of Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis of the Paranasal Sinuses

Unveiling primary intracranial eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis: A rare case report and diagnostic dilemmas

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare, benign fibroinflammatory condition primarily affecting the sinonasal and upper respiratory tract, with a few cases reported beyond these regions. Primary intracranial EAF is rare. To date, only one case of intracranial EAF has been reported; ours is the second. This case report presents a case of EAF in a 55-year-old man, initially misdiagnosed as meningioma based on clinical and radiological features. The patient complained of a persistent dull headache for six months without associated neurological symptoms. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dural-based lesion with characteristics suggestive of meningioma. However, histopathological examination post-surgical resection revealed a nodular vascular lesion with concentric angiocentric fibrosis, a distinctive onion skin pattern, and an inflammatory infiltrate rich in eosinophils, plasma cells, and histiocytes. Immunohistochemistry ruled out IgG4-related disease, and other systemic disorders were ruled out based on combined clinical and histological features. This case underscores the need for considering EAF in the differential diagnosis of dural-based lesions. Awareness of its potential mimicking of meningioma is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management, emphasizing the importance of histopathological examination in challenging cases.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal neoplasms, whether benign and malignant, pose a significant challenge to clinicians and represent a model area for multidisciplinary collaboration in order to optimize patient care. The International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors (ICSNT) aims to summarize the best available evidence and presents 48 thematic and histopathology-based topics spanning the field.

METHODS

In accordance with prior International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology documents, ICSNT assigned each topic as an Evidence-Based Review with Recommendations, Evidence-Based Review, and Literature Review based on the level of evidence. An international group of multidisciplinary author teams were assembled for the topic reviews using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses format, and completed sections underwent a thorough and iterative consensus-building process. The final document underwent rigorous synthesis and review prior to publication.

RESULTS

The ICSNT document consists of four major sections: general principles, benign neoplasms and lesions, malignant neoplasms, and quality of life and surveillance. It covers 48 conceptual and/or histopathology-based topics relevant to sinonasal neoplasms and masses. Topics with a high level of evidence provided specific recommendations, while other areas summarized the current state of evidence. A final section highlights research opportunities and future directions, contributing to advancing knowledge and community intervention.

CONCLUSION

As an embodiment of the multidisciplinary and collaborative model of care in sinonasal neoplasms and masses, ICSNT was designed as a comprehensive, international, and multidisciplinary collaborative endeavor. Its primary objective is to summarize the existing evidence in the field of sinonasal neoplasms and masses.

Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis of the Orbit: A Clinicopathologic Review of 6 Novel Cases With Review of the Literature

PURPOSE

To describe 6 cases and review the current state of knowledge of eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) involving the orbit.

DESIGN

Retrospective clinicopathologic case series and review of the current literature METHODS: Clinical records and histopathologic data of orbit-involving EAF were gathered between 2004 and 2022 from a single academic institution. The patients' presenting clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory data, radiographic studies, and management documentation were collected.

RESULTS

Retrospective review identified 6 novel cases, totaling 31 cases of EAF involving the orbit described as of this writing. Fourteen patients were male, and the average age of presentation was 49.8 years (range 25-78 years). Eighteen patients had concurrent sinonasal involvement, whereas 13 had primary orbital involvement. The median duration of symptoms prior to evaluation was 24 months, with nasal symptoms, proptosis, periorbital swelling, and pain being the most common presenting symptoms. The majority of patients underwent surgical debulking, as well as treatment with glucocorticoids and steroid-sparing agents, such as rituximab, with varied results.

CONCLUSION

EAF involving the orbit is uncommon. The histopathologic findings include a perivascular, eosinophil-rich infiltrate and a pauci-inflammatory storiform type of fibrosis concentrated around small vessels. Orbital involvement usually results from local extension from adjacent sinuses, but primary orbital involvement has been described. Surgical debulking and immunosuppressive agents such as rituximab have been shown to stabilize disease.

A rare lumpy inflammatory lesion of the orbit: a unique case report

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare inflammatory lesion, especially in orbit. EAF is believed to be related to IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), but the clinical manifestations of systemic involvement are relatively rare and easy to be confused with tumors or other inflammatory diseases. Histopathological examination is the most important way of its diagnosis and differentiation.

CASE PRESENTATION

We presented a 55-year-old female patient presented with recurrent swelling of the right lower eyelid for more than 2 months. The pathological diagnosis was EAF. Positive immunostaining for IgG, CD34, κ, and λ, while negative immunostaining for IgG4.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete surgical resection is the preferred treatment, histopathological examination is the main diagnostic standard.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis of the sinonasal tract: a case report and review of the literature

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare chronic benign disorder of unknown etiology and is characterized by submucosal thickening and fibrosis in the upper respiratory tract. In this report, we describe a case of EAF in the nasal cavity of a woman who underwent elective surgery for division of adhesions and has had no recurrence during 2 years of postoperative follow-up. A review of the literature on the clinical manifestations of EAF, sites of lesions, management, and outcomes identified 48 articles that included 72 cases. A summary of these reports is presented, including our present case. The most common anatomic site involved was the nose (77.8%), the most common manifestation was nasal obstruction (66.7%), and the most common treatment modality was surgical resection (83.3%). After surgery, 36% of patients remained free of EAF. The most common pharmacologic agent used was a corticosteroid (38.9%).

Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis of the Nasal Cavities: A Report of an Uncommon Lesion with Emphasis on the Etiology and Differential Diagnosis

Background and Objectives: Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is an indolent but sometimes locally destructive lesion with a predilection for the sinonasal tract. Although it was first described in 1983, its etiology remains unknown. Some authors initially attributed EAF to trauma, hypersensitivity, and/or surgical manipulation, while it has been recently suggested to include EAF within the spectrum of IgG4-related systemic diseases. Materials and Methods: We report an uncommon case of idiopathic EAF in a 76-year-old male who developed two bilateral tumefactive masses in the nasal cavities. Results: As the histological examination showed a subepithelial proliferation of fibroblasts along with sclero-hyaline fibrosis around small-sized vessels (an “onion skin-like” pattern) and an eosinophils-rich inflammatory infiltrate, a diagnosis of EAF was rendered. The differential diagnosis included granuloma faciale, Wegener’s granulomatosis, and Churg–Strauss syndrome. Conclusions: Pathologists should be aware of the possibility that this lesion can be part of the wide spectrum of IgG4-related systemic diseases by performing IgG4 investigations to assess adherence to IgG4-related systemic disease criteria.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis and IgG4-related disease revisited

INTRODUCTION

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) has been postulated to lie on the spectrum of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in a study reported in 2011. However, the aetiology of EAF remains controversial despite increasing literature reporting IgG4-RD targeted investigations in those studies. This review aims to formally evaluate the relationship between EAF and IgG4-RD using the latest 2019 ACR/EULAR classification scheme for IgG4-RD.

METHODS

A literature search was performed on the PubMed database for all studies describing patients diagnosed with EAF. Additionally, two EAF cases were retrospectively identified from our institution and presented. The demographics, clinical presentation, histological and serological data of each patient were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of twenty cases were evaluated, including eighteen patients from fourteen articles in the English literature and two cases from our institution. Six out of twenty (30%) patients with EAF met the criteria for IgG4-RD with the 2019 ACR/EULAR classification scheme.

CONCLUSION

This represents the first attempt at formally evaluating the relationship between EAF and IgG4-RD using a validated set of classification criteria. Using the currently available data, a small proportion of patients with EAF met the criteria for IgG4-RD. However, various limitations of this study suggest that further efforts at disease characterization of EAF may be required.

Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis Invading the Nasal Septum: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare and slowly progressive disease, which usually involves the sino-nasal structures and upper respiratory tract. It is a fibroinflammatory lesion with an unclear etiology. Recent literature suggests a relation to rheumatic or immunological disorders. Therefore, immunophenotypic workup is critical when suspected. We report a case of a 32-year-old man complaining of nasal obstruction lasting more than 2 years. Nasal endoscopy and computed tomography showed a deviated septum with bilateral soft tissue swelling. During the septoturbinoplasty, a submucosal mass with severe adhesion was observed beneath the septal flap. The mass was completely removed. Dense stromal fibrosis with eosinophil-rich inflammatory cell infiltration was found on histologic examination and the patient was diagnosed with EAF. In addition, we reviewed the pathologic diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, and management of EAF.

Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis in Bilateral Upper Eyelid Conjunctivas: A First Case Report

Patient: Female, 55-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis

Symptoms: Lid swelling

Medication: Topical eye drops

Clinical Procedure: Resection of conjunctivas

Specialty: Ophthalmology