[Tuberculosis of the upper aerodigestive tract]

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis of upper aerodigestive tract is rare. Was to report our experience in the diagnosis and the management of this disease with a review of the literature. We carried a retrospective study between 1990 and 2005, about 10 cases. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. All patients were treated with antituberculous chemotherapy. Follow-up was based on clinical, biological and endoscopic examinations with a mean duration of 24 months. Mean age was 29 years. Nine patients were male. Clinical examination and panendoscopy showed nasal, pharyngeal and laryngeal lesions respectively in 1, 6 and 3 cases. Sputum examinations were negative in all cases. After confirming diagnosis by biopsy and anatomopathological examination, all patients received antituberculous treatment for 8 to 9 months. Nine patients were followed regularly. They had all recovered from their symptoms, and lesions had completely disappeared. Tuberculosis of upper aerodigestive tract must be suspected in front of unusual evolution of any nasal or laryngo-pharyngeal symptom. Early and well-conduced medical treatment achieves a good outcome: