Epidemiological profile of laryngeal amyloidosis in theBogotá Hospital Militar Central in Bogotá

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngeal amyloidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the infiltration of amyloid protein within the extracellular space. It may present as a nodule or as an infiltrative or diffuse laryngeal process. The most common symp­toms are dysphonia, dysphagia, dyspnea, and cough. Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study was conducted. The medical records of patients diagnosed with laryngeal amyloidosis in the Laryngology Department of the Central Military Hospital of Bogotá from 2015 to 2022 were studied. Results: In this cohort, 71.4% of patients presented with dysphonia, while dyspnea and dyspha­gia were each observed in 14% of patients. Laryngeal stroboscopy revealed that the ventricular bands were the most frequently affected site, followed by the glottis (vo­cal folds, anterior and posterior commissures). Systemic involvement was identified in 28% of patients. The infiltrative pattern on stroboscopy was observed in 66,6% of patients. Discussion: The findings of this study are consistent with those reported in the largest case series in the literature by Dermody et al. Given the nonspecific presentation of laryngeal amyloidosis, other inflammatory pathologies should be ru­led out, including relapsing polychondritis, sarcoidosis; other infectious pathologies such as tuberculous laryngitis, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple myeloma. Conclusions: Although laryngeal amyloidosis is a rare condition, it should be consi­dered in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory laryngeal diseases because of its unfavourable evolution and impact on the quality of life.