Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown etiology. It can affect any part of the organism, although the lung is the most frequently affected. The involvement of the upper airways is rare, especially if isolated. Laryngeal sarcoidosis was first described in 1940 by Poe.

The authors report a case of a male patient with sarcoidosis manifested as a chronic inflammatory stenotic condition of the upper airways.

We present a case of a 38-year-old male patient presented with dysphonia, sore throat and progressive dyspnea for 6 months. On observation showed infiltrating stenotic lesion from soft palate extending to the pharynx and larynx, including the epiglottis, ventricular bands and vocal cords. The patient underwent tracheotomy and admitted for investigation. The CT-scan showed obliteration and thickness of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, extending to the epiglottis, vocal cords and ventricular bands, as well as the subglottic space. An elevated ACE (85.49 U/L) was present. Rigid bronchoscopy revealed extension of the infiltrating inflammatory process into the trachea in its entire length and circumference, but with no bronchiolar involvement. Biopsies showed intense inflammatory infiltrate with necrotizing granulomas of sarcoid type. He started treatment with intravenous corticosteroids with significant improvement.

Sarcoidosis of the upper airway is a rare multifaceted disease in its presentation. The diagnosis of this entity requires a high level of suspicion.