Diagnosis Demystified – Case 25

A 55-year-old woman presented to her dentist with carious cavities that had occurred since her last check-up. The patient had noticed that her mouth was dry and, on examination, her parotid glands were enlarged. At the dental hospital, her consultant performed a needle core biopsy, which was reported as containing confluent sheets of non-caseating granulomas. She was referred on to an ophthalamic specialist who found that she had uveitis on slit-lamp examination.

OMG, check out this jaw-dropping dental case, peeps! 🦷💥 This 55-year-old woman rolls into her dentist’s office with cavities, but wait, there’s more drama! 🤯 She’s got a dry mouth and super-sized parotid glands! 🌵💧 Like, what’s going on? 🤷‍♀️ So, she lands in the dental hospital, and her biopsy report comes back with a wild twist – non-caseating granulomas! 😱🔍 But it doesn’t stop there! She’s sent to an ophthalmic specialist and guess what they find? Uveitis on the scene! 👀😓

Whoa, here’s some dental knowledge for you, fam! 🦷💡 Ever heard of Heerfordt’s syndrome? It’s a chronic condition called sarcoidosis, where granulomas go on a wild spree! 🌪️😱 It can hit the parotid glands and cause uveitis, like a double whammy! 👀😓 But wait, there’s more! Facial nerve palsy and fever might join the party too! 🤧🌡️ So, next time you spot this dental detective, think Heerfordt’s syndrome! 🔍💙

Heerfordt’s syndrome, also known as Heerfordt-Waldenström syndrome or uveoparotid fever, is a rare subtype of sarcoidosis. It is characterized by the presence of parotid gland enlargement, facial nerve palsy, uveitis, and low-grade fever (Sève et al., 2021; Denny & Fotino, 2013; Kakizaki et al., 2017; Fujiwara et al., 2016). Complete Heerfordt’s syndrome is diagnosed when all four main symptoms are present, while incomplete Heerfordt’s syndrome is diagnosed when two out of the three symptoms (facial nerve palsy, parotid gland enlargement, and anterior uveitis) are detected (Ahmed et al., 2020; Fujiwara et al., 2016).

The most common symptoms of Heerfordt’s syndrome are facial nerve palsy, parotid gland enlargement, and anterior uveitis (Sève et al., 2021; Denny & Fotino, 2013; Kakizaki et al., 2017; Fujiwara et al., 2016). Other possible manifestations of sarcoidosis include cough, dyspnea, chest pain, weight loss, arthralgias, erythema nodosum, and intrathoracic involvement (Denny & Fotino, 2013; Sève et al., 2021). Intrathoracic involvement, characterized by symmetrical bilateral hilar adenopathy and/or diffuse lung micronodules, is the most common extrapulmonary manifestation of sarcoidosis (Denny & Fotino, 2013). Skin lesions, liver or splenic involvement, peripheral and abdominal lymphadenopathy, and peripheral arthritis are also frequent extrapulmonary manifestations (Denny & Fotino, 2013).

Heerfordt’s syndrome is typically self-limiting and resolves within 12 to 36 months, although some cases may be prolonged (Kakizaki et al., 2017).

Heerfordt’s syndrome – It’s a sneaky subtype of sarcoidosis. 👀🤒 The main players are parotid gland enlargement, facial nerve palsy, uveitis, and a low-grade fever! 🔍🌡️ When all four symptoms party together, it’s complete Heerfordt’s syndrome, but even with two out of three, it’s still incomplete! 🤝🏽💫 Other possible signs include cough, chest pain, weight loss, and more! So keep your eyes peeled for this rare gem! 💎✨ It usually clears up within a year or so, but some cases can be trickier! 🕰️💙

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