Endoscopic Cryotherapy for the Treatment of Epistaxis Due to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), an autosomal dominant vascular disease, involves mainly skin, mucocutaneous membranes, and viscera. Epistaxis is one of the most common symptoms of HHT, and chronic, frequently relapsing epistaxis can cause symptoms such as iron deficiency anemia, severe crusting, and nasal obstruction that can cause lower quality of life. Treatments for HHT range from medication and conservative management to more aggressive surgeries. None of the treatment options, however, have had satisfactory outcomes until now. We introduced cryotherapy for a patient with HHT and at least a 10-year history of frequent, severe epistaxis. This treatment strategy resulted in successful management of symptoms and no associated complications. We present herein a literature review and the clinical course and symptoms of an HHT patient who underwent cryotherapy.