Rhinoscleroma

Abstract

Context.— Rhinoscleroma is a rare, chronic, infectious granulomatous process involving the upper respiratory tract caused by gram-negative bacilli, Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis. The site most commonly affected is the nasopharynx; however, lesions in various other locations have been described. Objective.— To review the literature for all the reported cases of rhinoscleroma in the past 5 years. Data Sources.— Published cases of rhinoscleroma from a PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information, Bethesda, Maryland) search were reviewed. Conclusions.— Rhinoscleroma in nonendemic regions is extremely rare; however, with increased travel, immigration, and globalization, it is imperative to recognize this entity because the symptoms can be devastating and in some cases fatal. Although nasopharynx is the common site of involvement, unusual sites such as the trachea can be involved in rare cases. Rhinoscleroma can be managed effectively with a combination of antibiotics and surgical debridement and repair; however, recurrence rates do remain high.