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. 2008 Aug 27;2(4):309–315. doi: 10.1007/s12105-008-0077-y

Sinonasal Eosinophilic Angiocentric Fibrosis: A Report of Four Cases and Review of Literature

Reena Jain 1,, Jennifer V Robblee 2, Emerald O’Sullivan-Mejia 1, Jane Lea 3, Andrew Heller 4, William C Faquin 5, Celeste N Powers 1
PMCID: PMC2807588  PMID: 20614301

Abstract

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare, benign condition of unknown etiology involving the sinonasal tract and the upper respiratory airways, and rarely, larynx, and orbit. We report four cases of EAF identified, in three women and one man, aged 31, 57, 27, and 51 years, respectively. The patients complained of sinonasal obstructive symptoms of long duration, nasal masses, epiphora, and/or proptosis. Histologically, all cases demonstrated a dense fibrotic stroma with a perivascular “onion-skin” whorling pattern, and a dense inflammatory infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, and some neutrophils. In addition, one patient demonstrated modest acute neutrophilic inflammation with focal endothelial proliferation. No patient exhibited clinical or histological evidence of Wegener's granulomatosis, granuloma faciale, Kimura's disease, and malignant lymphomas. Surgical excision was performed in all cases, and to date, medical therapy has been of limited help. The clinical and histopathological features and differential diagnoses of this underreported EAF condition are discussed.

Keywords: Eosinophilic angiocenteric fibrosis, Sinonasal tract, Fibrosis, Eosinophils

Introduction

Eosinophilic angiocenteric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare condition of unknown etiology. It was first described by Holmes and Panje in 1983 [1]. Two years later, Roberts and McCann reported two cases of female patients with an unusual stenosing lesion involving the upper respiratory tract and gave a descriptive diagnosis: eosinophilic angiocenteric fibrosis (EAF) [2]. A review of the English literature reveals 28 additional cases of EAF involving the sinonasal tract have been reported [322]. EAF typically presents in young to middle-aged females as a slowly progressive upper airway obstruction in association with a submucosal inflammatory, fibrosing tumor-like lesion. Histologically, the lesion is characterized by a perivascular, eosinophil-rich inflammatory infiltrate and progressive fibrosis leading to a characteristic whorling, ‘onion-skin’-type pattern [1]. The unresolving fibrosis and consequent stenosis requires surgical intervention. We report an additional four cases of EAF centered around the nasal cavity and review of pertinent literature available on the previously reported cases.

Materials and Methods

Four patients diagnosed with eosinophilic angiocenteric fibrosis from 1998 to 2008 and originating in the head and neck region were identified from a review of the files of the Department of Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and University Health Network of University of Toronto. Clinical records and surgical pathology reports together with follow-up information was reviewed.

Results

Patient Information

The patients included three females and one male who ranged in age from 27 to 57 years (Table 1). The most common presentation was a submucosal or soft tissue mass in the upper respiratory tract (sinonasal cavity) and orbit, progressive nasal obstruction, and epiphora. One patient (case #2) had a history of allergy to mold, dust and ragweed, decreased sense of smell and proptosis. The other patient (case#3) had a history of cocaine abuse and nasal septal perforation (Fig. 1).

Table 1.

Summary of clinical features of our four cases of sinonasal eosinophilic angiocenteric fibrosis

Case # Age/sex Clinical symptoms Site Laboratory tests Radiological findings Treatment Follow-up
1 31/F Right epiphora, left orbital mass Sinuses (left maxillary & ethmoid), orbit ANCA, p29, MPO Not done Multiple biopsies, steroids, single resection Rec.  × 3,4 years; SOB
2 57/M Nasal congestion, epiphora, proptosis, decreased sense of smell Nose (bilateral lateral wall), multiple sinuses, lacrimal gland ANCA, p29, MPO, ANA, anti-DNA, peripheral eosinophilia Mass involving lacrimal gland and multiple sinus cavities Steroids, single resection Rec. × 2 years; SOB
3 27/F Nasal obstruction Nose (bilateral lateral wall) ANA, ANCA Not done Biopsy Lost to follow-up
4 51/F Nasal mass, obstruction & epiphora Nose (right lateral wall) Not done Mass involving right nasal cavity, medial canthus and nasolacrimal duct Single resection (debulking) Persistent mass; small increase in size

Rec., recurrence; SOB, shortness of breath

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

A 27-years-old woman affected with bilateral nasal obstructing lesion

Pathologic Findings

The masses ranged from 2.3 to 5.0 cm in size. Histologically, all cases demonstrated a dense fibrotic stroma with a perivascular ‘onion-skin’-type whorling pattern and an inflammatory infiltrate rich in eosinophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells (Fig. 2). In addition, case #3 demonstrated modest acute inflammation and focal endothelial proliferation. No vasculitis, granuloma formation, giant-cell histiocytic reaction, or necrosis was identified in any of these cases.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Nasal mass biopsy. (a) Inflammatory infiltrate consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils. (b) Perivascular fibrosis and eosinophil-rich inflammatory infiltrate (hematoxylin and eosin; ×400). (c) Thick collagen bundle with perivascular fibrosis (‘onion-skin’-type whorling pattern)

Immunohistochemical Studies

Immunohistochemical studies were performed on only case #4. CD31 and CD34 positive endothelial cells were seen within the sclerotic nodule. Perivascular, mixed T-cell and B-cell lymphocytic population was demonstrated by CD5 and CD20 immunohistochemical stains, respectively.

Flow Cytometric Studies

Lymphoma work-up by flow cytometry was performed on two cases (#1&2) and revealed polyclonal kappa and lambda positive, CD19 positive B cells, as well as CD4 and CD8 positive T-cells. No evidence of monoclonal B- or unusual T-cell population was identified.

Immunological Studies

Indirect immunofluorescence testing for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) performed in three patients (cases #1–3) was negative. In addition, ELISA for antibodies to p29 (proteinase 3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) performed in two patients (cases #1&2) was also negative. In case #2, cryoglobulin, ANA, and anti-DNA were also negative.

Radiologic Findings

Radiographic evaluation by computed tomography (CT) was available in all the cases and showed expanding soft tissue masses in the nasal turbinate extending into the sinuses (Fig. 3). All lesions, except the case #4, extended into the orbital soft tissue.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

A 51-year-old woman with contrast head CT-images. (a) With bone window showing no bone erosion. (b) Soft tissue mass along the right nasal bone extending medially into the nasal cavity

Follow-up and Treatment

In case #1, the patient was on steroid therapy and underwent surgical excision of the lesion. The lesion recurred after 4 years, and recently, the patient has developed shortness of breath and pulmonary nodularity. In case #2, the lesion was excised and the patient has been on Prednisone to relieve nasal congestion. He, too, has developed pulmonary symptoms.

Discussion

EAF is a rare benign lesion of the sinonasal and the upper respiratory tract, and rarely, subglottis and orbit [2, 2427]. Since 1983, when it was first described by Holmes and Panje [1], there have been only 31 cases of EAF involving the sinonasal tract reported within the English literature to date (Table 2). It’s etiology is unknown, although trauma and allergy have been implicated [2, 9]. Women are more commonly affected than men, but the reason is unknown. The symptoms are non-specific in all cases, and includes nasal obstruction, epistaxis, breathing difficulties, epiphora and less likely, proptosis; however, they tend to be chronic and progressive [123]. Radiographic evaluations are also usually non-specific and shows clouding and opacification of the nasal cavity and sinuses with or without bony erosion.

Table 2.

Literature review of reported cases of sinonasal eosinophilic angiocenteric fibrosis

Report Age/sex Clinical symptoms Site Related findings Treatment EV OS Follow-up
Holmes and Panje [1] 49/M Nasal obstruction Nose (lateral wall) Granuloma faciale Intra-lesional triamcinolone, single resection PD
Roberts and McCann [2] 27/F Nasal congestion Nose (septum & lateral wall) None Antihistamine, nasal & systemic steroids, multiple resection + + PD
59/F Nasal congestion Nose (septum & lateral wall) Granuloma faciale, urticaria Intra-lesional steroids, multiple resection + + PD
Roberts and McCann [3] 54/F Nasal stuffiness Nose (septum) None Multiple resections, radiotherapy N/A
50/F Nasal stuffiness Nose (lateral wall) None Multiple resections PD
Altemani et al. [4] 54/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum & lateral wall) Allergic rhinitis Multiple resections + + PD
Matai et al. [5] 51/M Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) Hay fever, prior nasal trauma Single resection + + FD
Thompson and Heffner [6] 28/M Nasal obstruction, epistaxis, pain Nose (septum & lateral wall), maxillary sinus None Nasal & systemic steroids, single resection + + PD
49/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) None Nasal & systemic steroids, single resection + + PD
64/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum & lateral wall), maxillary sinus None Nasal & systemic steroids, multiple resection + + PD
Burns et al. [7] 38/M Nasal obstruction & swelling Nose (septum & lateral wall) Granuloma faciale Intra-lesional & systemic steroids, multiple resection, dapsone, YAG laser + + PD
Loane et al. [8] 42/M Nasal obstruction, post-nasal drip Nose (septum) Wegener’s granulomatosis, asthma Immunosuppression, multiple resections + N/A
Pereira et al. [9] 52/M Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) Allergic rhinitis Partial resection + + PD
Owa et al. [10] 41/M Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) None Single resection + FD
Goldman [11] 50/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum & lateral wall) None Intra-lesional steroids, multiple resection PD
Tabaee et al. [12] 79/M Nasal congestion, swelling, tenderness Nose (septum & lateral wall) Granuloma faciale, c-ANCA, Squamous cell cancer, prior nasal surgery Single resection + Resolution at 1 year follow-up
Onder and Sungur [13] 45/M Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) None Single resection + N/A
Chinell et al. [14] 31/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) Granuloma faciale Biopsy and dapsone + PD
Nguyen et al. [15] 31/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) None Single resection + N/A
Narayan and Douglas-Jones [16] 72/F Nasal obstruction & swelling Nose (septum & lateral wall) Granuloma faciale Biopsy + PD
Paun et al. [17] 37/F Epistaxis, epiphora Nose (lateral wall) Granuloma faciale, pencillin-sensitive Multiple resections, oral steroids and azathioprine PD
68/M Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) None Single resection + + FD
57/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum), orbit None Single resection, dapsone, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, systemic steroids + + PD
58/F Nasal obstruction Nose (lateral wall) None Single resection + FD
Yung et al. [18] 66/F Recurrent epistaxis Nose (septum) Granuloma faciale Biopsy + + PD
45/F Recurrent epistaxis, nasal obstruction Nose (septum & lateral wall), maxillary sinus Granuloma faciale Biopsy, oral prednisolone, azathioprine + + PD
Holme et al. [19] 72/F Nasal obstruction Nose (septum & lateral wall) Granuloma faciale Biopsy, pulsed dye laser, dapsone and clofazimine + PD
Slovik et al. [20] 45/M Nasal obstruction Nose Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease Biopsy PD
Clauser et al. [21] 31/M Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) None Single resection + + PD
Watanabe and Moriwaki [22] 51/M Nasal obstruction Nose (septum) None Single resection FD
Nigar et al. [23] 67/F Nasal obstruction & swelling Nose (lateral wall), gingiva Granuloma faciale Single resection + PD
Present paper 31/F Epiphora, orbital mass Sinuses (maxillary, ethmoid), orbit None Multiple biopsies, steroids, single resection + PD
57/M Nasal congestion, epiphora, proptosis Nose (lateral wall), multiple sinuses, lacrimal gland Allergic rhinitis, peripheral eosinophilia Steroids, single resection + PD
27/F Nasal obstruction Nose (lateral wall) Cocaine abuse Biopsy + + Lost to follow-up
51/F Nasal mass, obstruction & epiphora Nose (lateral wall) None Single resection + PD

EV, eosinophilic vasculitis; OS, onion skinning; Blank, pathology not reported; PD, persistent disease; FD, free of disease; N/A, not available

The histology of EAF is pathognomonic and is characterized by perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration with progressive fibrosis around small vessels, leading to a characteristic ‘onion-skin’-type pattern [2]. Eosinophils are the predominant inflammatory cells. The main histologic differential diagnosis includes lesions with prominent eosinophilic infiltrates (Table 3). Absence of geographic necrosis, necrotizing vasculitis, and granulomatous inflammation excludes Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) and Churg-Strauss syndrome (CS). Blood test positive for c-ANCA and p-ANCA supports the diagnosis of WG and CS, respectively. Absence of dense lymphoid aggregates with prominent germinal centers excludes Kimura’s disease. Some authors have suggested an association between EAF and granuloma faciale, a benign cutaneous disease of unknown etiology characterized by sharply circumscribed plaques and skin nodules, with a predilection for the facial region [28]. While there are some histopathologic features in common among these diseases, granuloma faciale lacks the ‘onion-skin’ pattern of collagen whorling around a central vessel that is characteristic of EAF. The debate, therefore, continues as to whether EAF is a mucosal variant of granuloma faciale, or whether they are distinct entities [9, 12, 18]. Nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis are also included in the differential diagnosis, however, the presence of progressive inflammatory process should warrant further clinical, radiological and histologic evaluation.

Table 3.

Differential diagnosis of eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis in sinonasal and upper respiratory tract

Disease Sites Clinical presentation Laboratory tests Histopathological features
Eosinophilic angiocenteric fibrosis Upper respiratory tract, lacrimal sac, orbit Nasal obstruction, epiphora, proptosis None Dense fibrosis with perivascular ‘onion-skin’ whorling pattern, eosinophil-rich inflammatory infiltrate
Wegener’s granulomatosis Upper respiratory tract, lungs, kidneys Nasal pain, stuffiness, rhinitis, hearing loss, saddle-nose deformity (later stage) Cytoplasmic (antiproteinase 3)
c-ANCA positive (85%)
Geographic zones of bionecrosis, foreign-body giant cells, granuloma (rare)
Churg-Strauss syndrome Upper and lower respiratory tract, skin, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, heart, nerve Asthma, sinusitis Blood eosinophilia, perinuclear (anti-myeloperoxidae) p-ANCA positive Fibrinoid necrosis, extravascular granulomas with eosinophilia
Kimura’s disease Skin (head and neck) Subcutaneous nodules, lymphadenopathy, salivary gland enlargement Blood eosinophilia, raised ESR and serum IgE levels Dense lymphoid aggregates with prominent germinal centers, fibrous tissue
Granuloma faciale Skin (face) Plaques and nodules None Polymorphous infiltrate (N, E) in the dermis, fibrosis, Grenz zone

ANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; N, neutrophils; E, eosinophils

Based on the literature to date, the most common treatment modality of EAF is surgical resection. The recurrence rate is extremely high, with persistence of disease seen following most nasal resections [24, 6, 7, 9, 11]. Other treatment modalities, including local and systemic corticosteroid therapy have been tried with minimal clinical resolution of disease [2, 6, 7, 17, 18, 25]. No definitive treatment of choice has been recognized, and the etiology of EAF remains elusive despite the consistency of pathological findings in the described EAF cases.

In conclusion, EAF is a rare, benign, progressive fibro-inflammatory lesion of unknown etiology with predilection for the upper respiratory tract, especially the sinonasal tract. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice, though multiple procedures are often required. Though a possible association between GF and EAF, and WG and EAF have been reported, further case reports of this rare lesion are necessary before the etiology, pathogenesis and management can be clearly defined [1, 2, 7, 8, 12, 1418, 23].

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