Light-chain amyloidosis with dysphagia as the main symptom: a case report

J Med Case Rep. 2024 Sep 20;18(1):438. doi: 10.1186/s13256-024-04774-y.

Abstract

Background: Immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis is a relatively rare condition with a worldwide incidence of 5.1-12.8 cases per million person-years (Baker, 2022). It is characterized by a clonal population of immunoglobulin-secreting cells that produce a monoclonal light chain of κ or λ type as either an intact molecule or a fragment.

Case presentation: A 69-year-old East Asian (Chinese) male patient who presented with progressive dysphagia visited multiple hospitals repeatedly for more than 2 years and was finally diagnosed with immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis.

Conclusions: Otolaryngologists should consider immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis when encountering suspicious clinical manifestations and intervene early to avoid misdiagnosis.

Keywords: Case report; Deglutition; Dysphagia; Enlarged tongue; Light-chain amyloidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Deglutition Disorders* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis* / complications
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis* / diagnosis
  • Male