Localized laryngotracheobronchial amyloidosis: Case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Ear, nose, & throat journal Vol. 80; no. 9; pp. 632 - 638
• Main Authors: Clark, J. Madison, Weissler, Mark C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.09.2001; Medquest Communications; Sage Publications, Inc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Aged; Amyloidosis; Amyloidosis - diagnosis; Amyloidosis - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates (enzymatic deficiencies). Glycogenosis; Case studies; Croup; Diseases of the upper aerodigestive tract; Ent and stomatology; Errors of metabolism; Female; Humans; Laryngeal Diseases - diagnosis; Laryngeal Diseases - surgery; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Otolaryngology; Physiological aspects; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Severity of Illness Index; Tracheal Diseases - diagnosis; Tracheal Diseases - surgery; United States; Prognosis; Age 60-69; Enzymopathy; Polarized light; Conservative surgery; laser; Classification; ENT disease; Adult; Female; Endoscopy; Larynx disease; Diagnosis; Human; Bronchoscopy; Endoscopic surgery; Diseases of the trachea; Treatment efficiency; Instrumentation therapy; Metabolic diseases; Exploration; CO; Protein; Case study; Laryngotracheal; Symptomatology; Treatment; Biopsy; Birefringence; Amyloidosis; Direct laryngoscopy; Localized; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0145-5613; 1942-7522
• DOI: 10.1177/014556130108000908

Although localized laryngotracheobronchial amyloidosis is rare, the otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon should be familiar with this condition. Its characteristic appearance can suggest its presence in a patient who has the typical initial symptoms. Biopsies during direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy can play both a diagnostic and therapeutic role. After an appropriate examination to rule out systemic involvement, the patient should be managed with conservative surgery, although the use of a CO2 laser might be more efficacious than conventional surgery. With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, patients should expect a favorable prognosis. In this article, we describe a new case of localized laryngotracheobronchial amyloidosis in a 67-year-old woman, and we review the literature on this subject.