Sarcoidosis in ENT practice

Thirteen cases of sarcoidosis were seen at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital and St George's Hospital, Tooting, between 1963 and 1984 inclusive. In only 5 patients had a diagnosis of sarcoidosis been made prior to attendance. In the remaining 8 patients, there was a considerable delay in making a diagnosis in those cases with predominantly nasal symptoms, ranging from 8 to 18 months. Several patients with nasal sarcoidosis had evidence of systemic disease on investigation, but did not receive appropriate treatment early in the course of their disease because of the delay in initial diagnosis. Both the ENT surgeon and the general practitioner must be aware that symptoms of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and crusting are not always due to an allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, and granulomatous conditions should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with these symptoms.