Rheumatoid nodules of the larynx.
A 67-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was hospitalized because of dysphagia and severe nodulosis. Over a two-year period the patient had been treated with methotrexate. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck showed a 2 x 2 cm large tumour behind the top left lateral thyroid cartilage. A biopsy taken during direct laryngoscopy showed it was a rheumatic nodule. Treatment with colchicine reduced the patient's dysphagia. As methotrexate is used increasingly in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and as this particular drug causes rheumatic nodules in five to 10 per cent of the patients, it must be foreseen that the incidence of nodules in the upper airways will increase.
Sørensen
W T
WT
Department of Otolaryngology, Glostrup Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Møller-Andersen
K
K
Behrendt
N
N
D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012215:Rheumatic Nodule / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003078:Colchicine; D008727:Methotrexate