Extensive eye-oral-bronchial mucosal nodules with eosinopgillia: a rare case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Mucosal nodules can be caused by infection, inflammation and neoplastic disease. Many noninfectious diseases, such as eosinophilia, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, Wegener’s granuloma, langerhans cell histiocytosis etc., are associated with the formation of multisytem mucosal nodules, especially significant bronchial lesions. Detailed medical history, comprehensive metabolic profile, biopsy specimen and imaging examinations are required for differentiating among these disorders. The process of diagnosis and treatment of our patient’s mucosal nodules was challenging, which could be helpful to similar cases. Case presentation: We represent a case of a 29-year-old woman with plentiful nodules of unknown origin on extensive mucous membranes. Biopsy specimen reports inflammatory lesions with large numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and varying degrees of eosinophils. Treatment of anti-infection, anti-tussive and anti-allergic was ineffective, but glucocorticoid showed great improvement to her symptoms. Conclusion: We experienced a rare case with plentiful nodules of unknown origin on extensive mucous membranes. She may be a specific phenotype of eosinophilia or may be a novel multisystem disease with respiratory system as the primary symptom. The diagnosis of our patient remains unclear, but tentative glucocorticoid therapy was beneficial.