Sarcoidosis of the larynx in a child

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology characterized by non-caseating granulomatous inflammation of various organs, but most frequently involving the lungs of young adults. Sarcoidosis is rare in the pediatric age group, however numerous extensive reviews have been published. The most commonly seen initial manifestations in childhood are non-specific constitutional symptoms such as lethargy, fatigue and malaise, followed by cough, dyspnea, fever, weight loss, and lymphadenopathy in order of decreasing frequency. The diagnosis is one of exclusion and is established when clinical and radiological findings are supported by histological evidence of widespread non-caseating epithelial cell granulomas in more than one organ, or a positive Kveim test. Laryngeal involvement is usually part of the systemic disease, but isolated laryngeal sarcoidosis has been reported in adults. We report here a case of isolated laryngeal sarcoidosis in a 13 year old girl. The differential diagnosis and management are discussed.