Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comprehensive radiological features of laryngeal sarcoidosis: cases series and systematic review

  • Head-Neck-ENT Radiology
  • Published:
Neuroradiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To comprehensively summarize the characteristic radiological findings of laryngeal sarcoidosis.

Methods

We reviewed patients with laryngeal sarcoidosis who underwent computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and included 8 cases from 8 publications that were found through a systematic review and 6 cases from our institutions. Two board-certified radiologists reviewed and evaluated the radiological images.

Results

Almost all cases exhibited supraglottic lesions 13/14 (92.9%) and most of them involved aryepiglottic folds (12/13, 92.3%), epiglottis (11/14, 78.6%), and arytenoid region (10/14, 71.4%). Most lesions were bilateral (12/14, 85.7%). All cases showed well-defined margins and a diffuse swelling appearance (14/14, 100%). Non-contrast CT revealed a low density (4/5, 80%). The contrast-enhanced CT showed a slight patchy enhancement predominantly at the margin of the lesion in most cases (12/13, 92.3%). In one case, T2-weighted images showed high signal intensity peripherally and low signal intensity centrally (1/1, 100%). Gadolinium-enhanced MRI showed moderate heterogeneous enhancement predominantly at the margin of the lesion (2/2, 100%). In one case, diffusion-weighted imaging showed intermediate signal intensity; the apparent diffusion coefficient value was 2.4 × 10−3 mm2/s. The larynx was the only region affected by sarcoidosis in 57.1% (8/14) of the cases. Involvement of the neck lymph nodes and distant organs was observed in 4/14 (28.6%) patients, respectively.

Conclusion

We summarized the CT and MRI findings of patients with laryngeal sarcoidosis. Knowledge of these characteristics is expected to facilitate prompt diagnosis and appropriate management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sève P, Pacheco Y, Durupt F, Jamilloux Y, Gerfaud-Valentin M, Isaac S, Boussel L, Calender A, Androdias G, Valeyre D, El Jammal T (2021) Sarcoidosis: a clinical overview from symptoms to diagnosis. Cells 10:766. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10040766

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM et al (2021) The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 372:n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Murad MH, Sultan S, Haffar S, Bazerbachi F (2018) Methodological quality and synthesis of case series and case reports. BMJ Evid Based Med 23:60–63. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2017-110853

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Ginat DT, Blair EA (2015) Laryngeal swelling. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 141:667–668. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2015.0892

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Davis C, Girzadas DV (2008) Laryngeal sarcoidosis causing acute upper airway obstruction. Am J Emerg Med 26:114.e1-114.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2007.06.030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. McLaughlin RB, Spiegel JR, Selber J, Gotsdiner DB, Sataloff RT (1999) Laryngeal sarcoidosis presenting as an isolated submucosal vocal fold mass. J Voice 13:240–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0892-1997(99)80027-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Miyazaki M, Haraoka S, Sakata T, Yamano T (2020) A rare case of intractable laryngeal sarcoidosis : a case report. Int J Otolaryngol 2020:e6–e9. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1710349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kaira K, Ishizuka T, Yanagitani N, Sunaga N, Hisada T, Mori M (2008) Laryngeal sarcoidosis detected by FDG positron emission tomography. Clin Nucl Med 33:878–879. https://doi.org/10.1097/RLU.0b013e31818bf2f5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Palacios E, Smith A, Gupta N (2008) Laryngeal sarcoidosis. Ear Nose Throat J 87:252–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/014556130808700503

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ferretti GR, Calaque O, Reyt E, Massot C (2002) CT findings in a case of laryngeal sarcoidosis. Eur Radiol 12:739–741. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003300101136

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. van den Broek EM, Heijnen BJ, Verbist BM, Sjögren EV (2013) Laryngeal sarcoidosis : a case report presenting transglottic involvement. J Voice 27:647–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2013.03.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Chapman MN, Fujita A, Sung EK, Siegel C, Nadgir RN, Saito N, Sakai O (2016) Sarcoidosis in the head and neck: an illustrative review of clinical presentations and imaging findings. Am J Roentgenol 208:66–75. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.16.16058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Baughman RP, Teirstein AS, Judson MA et al (2001) Clinical characteristics of patients in a case control study of sarcoidosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 164:1885–1889. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.164.10.2104046

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mrówka-Kata K, Kata D, Lange D, Namysłowski G, Czecior E, Banert K (2010) Sarcoidosis and its otolaryngological implications. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 267:1507–1514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-010-1331-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pakalniskis MG, Berg AD, Policeni BA, Gentry LR, Sato Y, Moritani T, Smoker WR (2015) The many faces of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a review of the head and neck imaging manifestations. Am J Roentgenol 205:619–629. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.14.13864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Schwartzbauer HR, Tami TA (2003) Ear, nose, and throat manifestations of sarcoidosis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 36:673–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0030-6665(03)00030-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Dean CM, Sataloff RT, Hawkshaw MJ, Pribitkin E (2002) Laryngeal sarcoidosis. J Voice 16:283–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-1997(02)00099-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Duchemann B, Lavolé A, Naccache JM, Nunes H, Benzakin S, Lefevre M, Kambouchner M, Périé S, Valeyre D, Cadranel J (2014) Laryngeal sarcoidosis: a case-control study. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 31:227–234. https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/sarcoidosis/article/view/3248

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Benjamin B, Dalton C, Croxson G (1995) Laryngoscopic diagnosis of laryngeal sarcoid. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 104:529–531. https://doi.org/10.1177/000348949510400705

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ganeshan D, Menias CO, Lubner MG, Pickhardt PJ, Sandrasegaran K, Bhalla S (2018) Sarcoidosis from head to toe: what the radiologist needs to know. Radiographics 38:1180–1200. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2018170157

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Sekine T, Amano Y, Hidaka F, Takagi R, Machida T, Naito Z, Kumita S (2012) Hepatosplenic and muscular sarcoidosis: characterization with MR imaging. Magn Reson Med Sci 11:83–89. https://doi.org/10.2463/mrms.11.83

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Palmucci S, Torrisi SE, Caltabiano DC et al (2016) Clinical and radiological features of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis: a pictorial essay. Insights Imaging 7:571–587. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-016-0495-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Akhavan M (2021) Ear, nose, throat: beyond pharyngitis: retropharyngeal abscess, peritonsillar abscess, epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, and postoperative tonsillectomy. Emerg Med Clin North Am 39:661–675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2021.04.012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Dowdy RAE, Cornelius BW (2020) Medical management of epiglottitis. Anesth Prog 67:90–97. https://doi.org/10.2344/anpr-66-04-08

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Saito N, Nadgir RN, Nakahira M, Takahashi M, Uchino A, Kimura F, Truong MT, Sakai O (2012) Posttreatment CT and MR imaging in head and neck cancer: what the radiologist needs to know. Radiographics 32:1261–1282. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.325115160

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Hermans R (2008) Posttreatment imaging in head and neck cancer. Eur J Radiol 66:501–511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2008.01.021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Curtin H (2011) Anatomy, imaging, and pathology of the larynx. Section III. Pathologic conditions. Squamous cell carcinoma. In: Peter S, Curtin H (eds) Head and neck imaging, 5th edn. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 1905–2040

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. Takumi K, Staziaki PV, Hito R, Nadgir RN, Berk JL, Andreu-Arasa VC, Chavez W, Sakai O (2020) Amyloidosis in the head and neck: CT findings with clinicopathological correlation. Eur J Radiol 128:109034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2020.109034

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Moon WK, Han MH, Chang KH, Kim HJ, Im JG, Yeon KM, Han MC (1996) Laryngeal tuberculosis: CT findings. Am J Roentgenol 166:445–449. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.166.2.8553964

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Swallow CE, McAdams HP, Colon E (1994) Tuberculosis manifested by a laryngeal mass on CT scans. Am J Roentgenol 163:179–180. https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.163.1.8010209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. El Kettani NE-C, El Hassani M, Chakir N, Jiddane M (2010) Primary laryngeal tuberculosis mimicking laryngeal carcinoma: CT scan features. Indian J Radiol Imaging 20:11–12. https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-3026.59745

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

None.

Funding

No funding was received for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Akira Baba, Ryo Kurokawa, Mariko Kurokawa, Yoshiaki Ota & Ashok Srinivasan

  2. Department of Radiology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan

    Akira Baba, Takeshi Fukuda, Satoshi Matsushima, Hideomi Yamauchi & Hiroya Ojiri

  3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan

    Matsusato Tsuyumu

Authors
  1. Akira Baba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryo Kurokawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Takeshi Fukuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mariko Kurokawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Matsusato Tsuyumu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Satoshi Matsushima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yoshiaki Ota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Hideomi Yamauchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Hiroya Ojiri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Ashok Srinivasan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization: Akira Baba, Ryo Kurokawa, Mariko Kurokawa; data curation: Akira Baba, Takeshi Fukuda, Matsusato Tsuyumu, Ryo Kurokawa, Mariko Kurokawa; methodology: Akira Baba, Ryo Kurokawa, Mariko Kurokawa; formal analysis and investigation: Akira Baba, Ryo Kurokawa, Mariko Kurokawa; writing—original draft preparation: Akira Baba; writing—review and editing: Akira Baba, Ryo Kurokawa, Takeshi Fukuda, Mariko Kurokawa, Matsusato Tsuyumu, Yoshiaki Ota, Hideomi Yamauchi, Hiroya Ojiri, Ashok Srinivasan; resources: Ashok Srinivasan.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akira Baba.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None to declare.

Ethics approval

We obtained our institutional review board approval for including cases to this systematic review study and performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was waived of due to the retrospective nature of the study.

Consent for publication

All authors consent to the publication of the manuscript in Neuroradiology.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Baba, A., Kurokawa, R., Fukuda, T. et al. Comprehensive radiological features of laryngeal sarcoidosis: cases series and systematic review. Neuroradiology 64, 1239–1248 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-022-02922-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-022-02922-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation