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Case Reports
. 2021 Oct 21:34:101539.
doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2021.101539. eCollection 2021.

Retropharyngeal edema: A rare manifestation of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Osamu Matsuno  1 , Seijiro Minamoto  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Retropharyngeal edema: A rare manifestation of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Osamu Matsuno et al. Respir Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is characterized by excessive eosinophil accumulation in the peripheral blood and affected tissues with development of granulomatous vasculitic organ damage. Although upper airway and neck involvement is seen in patients with EGPA, retropharyngeal inflammation has never been reported. We report a case of retropharyngeal edema in a 70-year-old woman with EGPA. Her symptoms improved and the retropharyngeal edema disappeared on computed tomography following treatment. EGPA should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with asthma presenting with neck swelling and dysphagia.

Keywords: ANCA, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; CT, computed tomography; Case report; Dysphagia; EGPA, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; HES, Hypereosinophilic syndrome; Ig, immunoglobulin; IgG4-RD, immunoglobulin G4-related disease; MPO-ANCA, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies against myeloperoxidase; Neck swelling; Retropharyngeal edema.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A) Neck computed tomography (CT) showing prevertebral thickening with edema (white arrows). (B) Resolution of retropharyngeal swelling seen on follow-up CT 2 months later.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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