Scleroma of the lower respiratory tract: case report and review of literature

Abstract

The case of a 46-year-old man who presented with acute respiratory distress due to a tracheal mass is reported. The patient underwent endoscopic resection of the mass and the histopathology revealed scleroma. No other sites of involvement by scleroma were found. This case is reported because laryngotracheal involvement by scleroma as the only manifestation of this disease is extremely rare.

Rhinoscleroma: A French National Retrospective Study of Epidemiological and Clinical Features

“…It usually starts in the subepithelium of the nasal mucosa [8], which remains affected in most cases, spreading thereafter to other areas, such as the subepithelium of the pharynx, which is involved in ∼50% of cases [9]. Other affected sites include the eustachian tube, maxillary antrum, oral cavity, larynx, orbit, trachea, and bronchi [10]. Subepithelial invasion by KR, neutrophils, and histiocytes may extend secondarily to the interstitium and adjacent cartilage and bone structures [8].…”

Rhinoscleroma With Laryngotracheal Involvement, Causing Diagnostic Dilemma

“…The author commented that there were only two cases of isolated laryngotracheal scleroma, both of which required urgent tracheostomy. [8] In Los Angeles study of 22 patients with scleroma [9] , 59% of patients had laryngotracheal scleroma. All patients in this study had nasal mucosal involvement.…”