Concurrent granuloma faciale and eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis of the sinonasal tract: a case report and review of the literature

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare chronic benign disorder of unknown etiology and is characterized by submucosal thickening and fibrosis in the upper respiratory tract. In this report, we describe a case of EAF in the nasal cavity of a woman who underwent elective surgery for division of adhesions and has had no recurrence during 2 years of postoperative follow-up. A review of the literature on the clinical manifestations of EAF, sites of lesions, management, and outcomes identified 48 articles that included 72 cases. A summary of these reports is presented, including our present case. The most common anatomic site involved was the nose (77.8%), the most common manifestation was nasal obstruction (66.7%), and the most common treatment modality was surgical resection (83.3%). After surgery, 36% of patients remained free of EAF. The most common pharmacologic agent used was a corticosteroid (38.9%).

Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis of the Nasal Cavities: A Report of an Uncommon Lesion with Emphasis on the Etiology and Differential Diagnosis

Background and Objectives: Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is an indolent but sometimes locally destructive lesion with a predilection for the sinonasal tract. Although it was first described in 1983, its etiology remains unknown. Some authors initially attributed EAF to trauma, hypersensitivity, and/or surgical manipulation, while it has been recently suggested to include EAF within the spectrum of IgG4-related systemic diseases. Materials and Methods: We report an uncommon case of idiopathic EAF in a 76-year-old male who developed two bilateral tumefactive masses in the nasal cavities. Results: As the histological examination showed a subepithelial proliferation of fibroblasts along with sclero-hyaline fibrosis around small-sized vessels (an “onion skin-like” pattern) and an eosinophils-rich inflammatory infiltrate, a diagnosis of EAF was rendered. The differential diagnosis included granuloma faciale, Wegener’s granulomatosis, and Churg–Strauss syndrome. Conclusions: Pathologists should be aware of the possibility that this lesion can be part of the wide spectrum of IgG4-related systemic diseases by performing IgG4 investigations to assess adherence to IgG4-related systemic disease criteria.

A Case Report and Systematic Review of Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis of the Paranasal Sinuses

OBJECTIVE

There is a paucity of literature discussing prognostic factors or comparing outcomes in eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF). This review aims to analyze tumor and patient characteristics as possible prognostic markers and compare surgical approaches.

METHODS

Systematic literature review and case report analyzing available cases of EAF located within the paranasal sinuses.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 39 articles meeting criteria for a total of 59 cases (including 1 from our institution). Median patient age was 46 years. The most common presenting symptoms were nasal obstruction (69%, n = 41) and change in external nasal appearance (39%, n = 32). The majority of cases (85%) were treated with surgical resection alone or in combination with medication. Of surgical patients, 62% underwent a complete resection with a recurrence rate of 20%. Median follow-up duration was 2 years. Endoscopic approach showed a significant positive correlation with complete resection ( P = .045). Patient sex ( P = .6), tumor location (range, P = .32-.98), lateral rhinotomy ( P = .26), septoplasty ( P = .84), and external rhinoplasty ( P = .28) were not significantly correlated with total resection. Insufficient sample size precluded calculation of predictors of recurrence following surgery.

CONCLUSION

This review suggests that an endoscopic approach to EAF tumor is a viable option, frequently yielding complete resection.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis of the sinonasal tract

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is an exceedingly rare and potentially disfiguring and obstructing benign lesion involving the upper airways. We report two cases of EAF originating from the nasal cavity in a 31-year-old female and a 58-year-old male exhibiting nasal obstructive symptoms, with imaging features and histopathology characteristic of EAF. Surgical excision was performed on one patient with a disfiguring nasal mass at a tertiary referral rhinology practice within a university centre. Summarized are the relevant clinical issues to increase awareness of this disease. The slow progression and rarity of the disease has previously resulted in diagnostic difficulty. We review the limited current literature surrounding the clinical features and treatment options for this progressive and potentially morbid condition. These cases reinforce that, while rare, inflammatory and fibrosing lesions in general should still be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with obstructive lesions in the sinonasal tract.

Sinonasal eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a benign rare lesion of the upper respiratory mucosa. EAF most commonly presents with an obstructive nasal mass. Due to the rarity of EAF, case reports and case studies have predominated the literature. This systematic review discusses the demographics, clinical presentation, associated findings, management, and outcomes of this uncommon entity.

METHODS

The PubMed database was searched for all articles describing patients diagnosed with sinonasal EAF. Additional cases were examined from the bibliographies of selected articles. Demographics, clinical presentation, associated findings, radiography, management, and outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifty-two cases were included from 34 articles, including 1 case from our institution. The most common presenting symptom was nasal obstruction (78.8%). Fourteen patients (26.9%) had a previous history of nasal surgery or trauma. Surgical resection alone was the most commonly used primary treatment approach (50.0%), resulting in the greatest proportion of disease-free patients (55.6%) over a median follow-up period of 36 months. A combination of surgery and corticosteroids was the second-most-common treatment modality, used in 28.8% of cases. Of the 40 cases reporting patient outcomes, 100% of patients were alive at follow-up independent of treatment modality.

CONCLUSION

To date, this review contains the largest number of patients with sinonasal EAF. Aggressive surgical resection alone constitutes the most common treatment modality and may be most effective at eradicating disease.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis of the nasal septum

Background. Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare benign condition of unknown aetiology that causes stenosis of the upper respiratory tract. It is most commonly found at the nasal septum and sinus mucosa causing mucosal thickening and nasal obstructive symptoms. The diagnosis is mainly based on characteristic histologic findings. Case Report. A 27-year-old young woman presented with a slow growing mass at her anterior nasal septum for over eight years. She complained of persistent nasal obstruction, epistaxis, sometimes diffused facial pain, and chronic headache. 3 years ago, the tumor was partially resected for ventilation and a nasal septum perforation was left. Imaging findings indicated soft-tissue thickening of the anterior part of septum and adjacent lateral nasal walls. Pathological examination showed numerous inflammatory cells infiltrates containing eosinophils, fibroinflammatory lesion with a whorled appearance fibrosis which typically surrounded vessels. A diagnosis of eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis was made. All laboratory tests were unremarkable. Skin prick test was positive. The tumor-like lesion was totally resected. Conclusions. EAF is a rare benign and progressive disorder causing destruction. Combined with radiological imaging of EAF historical findings contribute to the diagnosis. It is important to prevent tumor from recurrence by total resection of the lesion.

Sinonasal eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis: a report of four cases and review of literature

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare, benign condition of unknown etiology involving the sinonasal tract and the upper respiratory airways, and rarely, larynx, and orbit. We report four cases of EAF identified, in three women and one man, aged 31, 57, 27, and 51 years, respectively. The patients complained of sinonasal obstructive symptoms of long duration, nasal masses, epiphora, and/or proptosis. Histologically, all cases demonstrated a dense fibrotic stroma with a perivascular "onion-skin" whorling pattern, and a dense inflammatory infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, and some neutrophils. In addition, one patient demonstrated modest acute neutrophilic inflammation with focal endothelial proliferation. No patient exhibited clinical or histological evidence of Wegener's granulomatosis, granuloma faciale, Kimura's disease, and malignant lymphomas. Surgical excision was performed in all cases, and to date, medical therapy has been of limited help. The clinical and histopathological features and differential diagnoses of this underreported EAF condition are discussed.

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare disease of the sinonasal tract, with histologic characteristic features like thick collagen bundles whirling around vessels in a fibrotic stroma with inflammatory cells rich in eosinophils. The Authors present a case of a 31-year-old man with bilateral nasal obstruction with no history of allergies or other systemic disease. The patient underwent a septoplasty with symptoms relieving. An EAF diagnosis was made. Differential diagnosis must rule out other lesions that may mimic EAF such as granuloma faciale, Kimura disease, Wegener granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome.

[Extrafacial granuloma eosinophilicum]

Three patients with a rare extrafacial granuloma eosinophilicum are presented. Lesions were localized on the scalp, the upper back or the upper arm. Only one patient had a typical facial granuloma eosinophilicum at the same time. Diagnosis was established by histopathology. The histopathological findings vary with the age of the lesion. Early lesions are characterized by a vasculitis with many eosinophils separated by a Grenz zone from epidermis and follicular structures. With time the inflammation changes and hyalin fibrosis takes place.