Head and neck manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a retrospective analysis of 19 patients and review of the literature

Introduction: Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) is a small vessel vasculitis characterized by a necrositing granulomatous inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tracts and focal/proliferative glomerulonephritis. In more than 70% of the cases, the presenting symptoms are head and neck manifestations that are often misdiagnosed as infectious or allergic in etiology. Objective: The present study provides an analysis of head and neckmanifestations in a series of patients diagnosed with GPA. It also evaluates their medical and surgical treatment and provides a review of the relevant literature. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 19 patients diagnosed with GPA at a public tertiary care hospital between 2006 and 2017 was performed. Results: A total of 19 patients were included in the present study, and 16 of them presented head and neck manifestations. Sinonasal symptoms were the most common, affecting 56% of the patients, followed by laryngotracheal (31.25%) and ear (25%) symptoms. In 7 patients, sinonasal symptoms were the first manifestation of the disease (43.75%). Four patients underwent surgery at some stage of the disease. Conclusions: Head and neck involvement is common in GPA and may stand for the first or the onlymanifestation of the disease. The otolaryngologists play a central role in the diagnosis and long-term treatment of these patients, and they have to keep this pathology in mind when treating patients with ENT symptoms that do not respond as expected to the treatment (AU)

Identification of factors related to cases of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo refractory to canalicular repositioning maneuvers and evaluation of the need for magnetic resonance imaging in their management: retrospective analysis of a series of 176 cases

Introduction: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of peripheral vertigo, and, in most cases, it presents a favorable prognosis. The treatment is based on a series of specific canalicular repositioningmaneuvers that offer an efficacy close to 100%. Despite this, there are cases that are refractory to treatment, with the persistence of the vertigo symptoms. Objectives: The objective of the present paper is to analyze the factors associated with an increased risk of refractory BPPV and the importance of nuclear magnetic resonance in the study of these patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 176 patients diagnosed with BPPV in our center.We divided them into two groups: responders and non-responders to the treatment, and analyzed the possible risk factors associated with a higher risk of refractory vertigo. Fischer exact test was used. Results: We found 11 cases refractory to treatment; all of them underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadoliniumaccording to our protocol. Of these, four had an otoneurologic background or pathology, and two other patients presented a multicanal involvement. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Otoneurologic background and multicanal involvement were associated with a higher risk of refractory BPPV. When dealing with a BPPV with persistent symptomatology/nystagmus or with early relapse after an initial improvement, other entities that enter into the differential diagnosis must always be considered. We consider it essential to perform an MRI with gadolinium to rule out cases of BPPV that have a central cause (AU)