Rhinoscleroma

Rhinoscleroma is a chronic granulomatous infection involving the upper respiratory tract due to Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis. It initially involves the nasal mucosae but it may progress to any other part of the upper respiratory tract.

Untreated rhinoscleroma slowly progresses over many years ¹.

Clinical presentation

Patients most often present with nasal obstruction. Other non specificnonspecific symptoms are often encountered such as epistaxis, rhinorrhea, dysphagia, stridor, and dysphonia.

Epidemiology

Patients with rhinoscleroma are usually between 10 to 30 years old. Poor hygiene, prolonged close contact, and malnutrition are considered risk factors. It is endemic in Central America, Egypt, tropical Africa, India, and Indonesia ³.

Radiographic features

The main feature of rhinoscleroma is focal or diffuse tracheal wall thickening with or without nodularity. Hence, it also presents as subglottic stricture and narrowing of the trachea. The thickening is of soft-tissue density, without calcifications ¹.

Differential diagnosis

For a differential diagnosis, see :

• diffuse tracheal narrowing
• focal thickening of the tracheal wall