Clinical, radiological and pathological study of 88 cases of typical and complicated scleroma

Scleroma is a chronic specific granulomatous disease. It is considered endemic in Central America, Egypt, tropical Africa, India, and Indonesia. The most common complaint is nasal obstruction, other symptoms include; rhinorrhea, epistaxis, dysphagia, stridor, and dysphonia.

So our objective was to focus on the various clinical and radiological manifestations of scleroma in an endemic area, with some atypical symptoms and signs, and to alert physicians to suspect scleroma or its complications in any case of unexplained nasal lesion.

Our study included 88 cases who were admitted in our otorhinolaryngology department. They presented with various manifestations of Rhino-pharyngo-laryngo scleroma, out of these patients 16 cases showed atypical presentations. Our diagnosis was based on clinical and radiological examination, aided by bacteriological and pathological examination.

Patients with typical rhinoscleroma (72 patients) presented with various nasal and laryngo-tracheal symptoms. 16 patients (18%) presented complaining of various nasal symptoms and signs, which were not suspected to be rhinoscleroma, so our workup was directed to diagnose those patients, and their final diagnosis was reached to be rhinoscleroma, we sub classified those patients according to their presentation.

Rhinoscleroma can present clinically with atypical features, so in order to avoid misdiagnosis, it is important to keep in mind these atypical manifestations.