Amyloid Deposits in the Nose and Maxillary Sinuses: Report of a Case

Abstract

THE CAUSE OF amyloid deposition remains obscure although much is known about its incidence, histological appearance, and clinical course.^1-3Four classes of amyloidosis exist: (1) primary amyloidosis characterized by systemic amyloid deposition unrelated to any chronic debilitating disease such as tuberculosis; (2) secondary amyloidosis related to some chronic disease; (3) amyloidosis that occurs in 15% of cases of multiple myeloma; and (4) "tumor" amyloidosis, localized amyloid deposits unrelated to myeloma or other chronic disease and which usually occurs in the larynx, trachea, bronchi, or skin.^4-8McAlpine reported seven cases of confirmed upper airway tumor amyloidosis in 655 cases of nonneoplastic "tumors" of the upper airway seen over a period of 20 years.⁹ No reason has been advanced for the susceptibility of laryngeal and tracheobronchial tissue to deposits of amyloid, nor is it known why the nasal septum does not become involved more frequently in this process. We