OTOLARYNGOLOGIC MANIFESTATIONS OF SARCOIDOSIS - PRESENTATION AND DIAGNOSIS

Neuro-otologic manifestations of sarcoidosis are rare, Dizziness in pa rticular is a rare presenting complaint of the patient afflicted with this systemic granulomatous disorder, Head and neck and sinonasal pres entations of this disease are more common, We reviewed our experience with six such patients who presented for management of their otolaryng ologic (ORL) manifestations in order to delineate the involvement of t he otolaryngologist in the treatment and diagnosis of these patients, with a focus upon the relevant tests and procedures in the otolaryngol ogist's de novo diagnosis of sarcoidosis, Studies ordered in the cours e of otolaryngologic evaluation and their utility in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis by the otolaryngologist are reviewed and classified into u seful, supportive, and ancillary, The otolaryngologist played an impor tant role in diagnosis, with four of six patients diagnosed to have sa rcoidosis on the basis of their otolaryngologic presentations, Biopsy was performed by the otolaryngologist for diagnosis of sarcoidosis in all four of these cases, Steroids were central to treatment. Oral ster oid therapy was the principal treatment: both patients with neuro-otol ogic sarcoid were sucessfully managed with oral steroids, Intralesiona l steroids were necessary to treat the skin lesion, One of six patient s patients experienced complications related to steroid use.