Vocal fold deposits in macrophagic myofasciitis

Abstract

Macrophagic myofasciitis was first reported in 1998. This disease manifests as diffuse myalgia and chronic fatigue. Its pathophysiology has been traced to the presence of an aluminum adjuvant used in vaccines against hepatitis A and B virus and tetanus toxoid; the adjuvant aggregates at the site of injection. One-third of patients with macrophagic myofasciitis develop autoimmune disease. Vocal fold deposits have been described in autoimmune diseases such as sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. We report what to the best of our knowledge is the first published case of vocal fold deposits in macrophagic myofasciitis.