Sarcoidosis of the head and neck

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder characterized varying degrees of involvement of the skin, viscera, and lymph nodes by non-caseating granulomata. Otolaryngologic manifestations of sarcoidosis are seen in about 10% of patients with sarcoidosis; neck mass, followed by parotid swelling and reversible facial nerve palsy are most common. Hearing loss and peripheral vestibulopathy are rare, and are incompletely understood. Nasal sarcoidosis shows nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and nasal bleeding, and nasal mucosa of the patients has small sarcoid nodules in the endoscopic findings. The otorhinolaryngologist is critical to the diagnosis, because of the ease of biopsy in most cases of sarcoidosis in the head and neck. Steroids are central to treatment.