Heerfordt's Syndrome Associated with Trigeminal Nerve Palsy and Reversed Halo Sign

Intern Med. 2021 Jun 1;60(11):1747-1752. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.6176-20. Epub 2020 Dec 29.

Abstract

Heerfordt's syndrome is a rare subtype of sarcoidosis and features a combination of facial palsy, parotid swelling, and uveitis, associated with a low-grade fever. Cases with two of three symptoms are called "incomplete Heerfordt's syndrome." Heerfordt's syndrome involving other cranial nerve symptoms is relatively rare. We herein report a case of incomplete Heerfordt's syndrome presenting with trigeminal nerve palsy and a reversed halo sign, a rare manifestation of pulmonary sarcoidosis. The histological diagnosis following a biopsy of the parotid gland and endobronchial ultrasound-guided trans-bronchial needle aspiration of the mediastinal lymph nodes was sarcoidosis. The symptoms and lung lesions improved after corticosteroid therapy.

Keywords: Heerfordt's syndrome; endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration; reversed halo sign; trigeminal nerve palsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Parotid Gland
  • Sarcoidosis*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary*
  • Trigeminal Nerve
  • Uveoparotid Fever* / diagnosis
  • Uveoparotid Fever* / diagnostic imaging