Rhinoscleroma - A Clinical Mimicker of Malignancy

Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, the causative agent of rhinoscleroma, is a Gram-negative, facultatively intracellular, non-motile, encapsulated bacillus. The organism has a very low infectivity necessitating a chronic exposure for infection.Central America, Africa and the Middle East are endemic, but sporadic cases can also been encountered attributed to immigration. Prevalence is also high in developing countries like India. 

The factors responsible for this are attributed to poor hygiene, poor access to medications and overcrowded living conditions. Though entire respiratory mucosa can be affected, the organism has an affinity for nasal mucosa and thus nasal cavity is the most prevalent site accounts for 95–100% of cases. In decreasing order of involvement nasopharynx (18–43%), larynx (15–40%), trachea (12%) and bronchi (2–7%) are the other sites. Involvement of oral cavity and soft tissues of upper lip and philtrum are uncommon. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>