Graft-vs-Host Disease as a Cause of Enlargement of the Epiglottis in an Immunocompromised Child

• Published in: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery Vol. 127; no. 4; pp. 439 - 441
• Main Authors: de Diego, Juan I, Prim, Maria P, Hardisson, David, del Palacio, Antonio J, Rabanal, Im̄aki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 01.04.2001
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Dyspnea - etiology; Epiglottis; Graft vs Host Disease - complications; Graft vs Host Disease - metabolism; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Immunohistochemistry; Laryngeal Diseases - etiology; Laryngeal Diseases - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Human; Immunopathology; Epiglottis; Respiratory disease; Graft versus host reaction; Male; Immune deficiency; Case study; Dyspnea; Etiology; ENT disease; Larynx disease; Diagnosis; Widening; Child
• ISSN: 0886-4470; 2168-6181; 1538-361X; 2168-619X
• DOI: 10.1001/archotol.127.4.439

We report a rare case of dyspnea due to enlargement of the epiglottis in a severely immunocompromised patient. The child underwent a previous tracheostomy at another hospital because of respiratory distress under the diagnosis of acute epiglottitis. The patient was subsequently decannulated without incident. One year later, the child developed a new episode of dyspnea with inspiratory stridor. A new tracheostomy was neccessary, and a biopsy specimen of the enlarged epiglottis was taken to confirm the diagnosis of graft-vs-host disease. The therapeutic measures in these situations are discussed below, and a review of the current literature concerning the etiology and management of epiglottic enlargement is performed.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:439-441-->