Manifestation of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis in head and neck

Besides an obvious clinical involvement of the ear, nose and throat (ENT)-region in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA), systematic data is sparse. Only a few case series and case reports are available that particularly describe rhinological, otological or other manifestations of EGPA in the ENT-region. Therefore, the objective of this study is to systematically describe data on ENT-region involvement in a large series of EGPA patients.

EGPA patients examined in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel between 1990 and 2010 were included in the study. Criteria for ENT-manifestation were assigned to five subgroups (history, ENT examination, audiological and rhinological diagnostic findings and cranial MRI) and documented cumulatively. EGPA patients were examined in a standardized way based on the validated Ear Nose and Throat Activity Score (ENTAS) or its precursor, including audiological and rhinological diagnostic findings. MRI scans were analysed to further evaluate ENT involvement.

A total of 95 EGPA patients were included in the study. In approximately 80% of them, ENT-involvement was documented and the assumption of a frequent rhinological manifestation in patients with EGPA was confirmed. Moreover, the data reveals remarkable evidence for an otological manifestation. A missing correlation between the rhinological and the otological manifestation indicates an independent autoimmune-inflammatory process for this manifestation.

The data of the largest monocentric study presented here confirms the hypothesis of a frequent ENT involvement in EGPA patients, in whom rhinological and otological manifestations are most common. Therefore, treatment should include long term follow-up and should be managed interdisciplinary.