[Sarcoidosis of the paranasal sinuses as the etiology of therapy refractory dacryocystitis].

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a chronic systemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by non-caseating granulomatous inflammation of various organs. The clinical findings when nasal mucosa is involved include nasal crusting, epistaxis, pain and/or anosmia, nasal polyps, or submucosal nodularity.

CASE REPORT: We describe a case of sarcoidosis of the paranasal sinuses. In a 33-year-old man, the first symptom was therapy resistant putrid dacryocystitis. Further there had been symptoms of chronic sinusitis. A CT scan revealed swelling of the mucosa in the anterior ethmoid, frontal recess, and maxillary sinus. As the disease obviously affected the region of the nasolacrimal duct with consecutive stenosis of this canal, we opted for endoscopic sinus surgery. A few days after this endoscopic procedure, the dacryocystitis had healed.

RESULTS: The histopathological examination showed the typical picture of sarcoidosis that had its primary manifestation in the paranasal sinuses. According to these findings further explanation of the patient was necessary. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed by lavage and biopsy material of bronchoscopically suspect lung areas. Consequently, the patient underwent a long-term corticoid therapy and today, 10 months after the surgical intervention, the patient is free of symptoms. Follow-up endoscopy of the paranasal sinuses showed no further pathological findings.

CONCLUSION: Our case demonstrates that the first manifestation of sarcoidosis can be in the paranasal sinuses.