Upper and Lower Respiratory Mucous Membrane Plasmacytosis with a Cobblestone Appearance: a Case Report

Ear Nose Throat J. 2022 Nov 10:1455613221134412. doi: 10.1177/01455613221134412. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

A 53-year-old woman with a recurrent sore throat, xerostomia, nasal obstruction, and nasal discharge came to our hospital. At the first visit, she did not have a fever, but a blood test showed an intense inflammatory response. She had oral mucosal erosion. She developed dyspnea 2 months later. Nasendoscopy, laryngoscopy, and bronchoscopy showed upper and lower respiratory mucosa cobblestone appearance. Microscopy of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa biopsy found regular mononuclear inflammatory cell dense submucosal infiltrate, mainly plasma cells. A mucous membrane plasmacytosis diagnosis was made. Prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day rapidly improved bronchial symptoms and cobblestone appearance.

Keywords: cobblestone appearance; pharyngeal mucosa; plasma cell; plasmacytosis.