ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs. Although TB can affect many organs, involvement of the head and neck is extremely rare and involvement of the salivary glands is even rarer. Clinical diagnosis is challenging and may be misdiagnosed, as it mimics neoplasms on physical exams and imaging. In this paper, we present a case of parotid tuberculosis in a 28-year-old man who presented with a painful left parotid mass, loss of appetite, fever, and weight loss for six months. Suspicion of infection arose, and treatment began with intravenous antibiotics, followed by oral antibiotics, with no improvement. A biopsy of the patient's left parotid gland was performed, and a diagnosis of parotid TB with jaw osteomyelitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was made. The patient was started on isoniazid for one week, followed by isoniazid, ethambutol, and rifampicin for six months. Follow-up after six months showed full resolution of the swelling.
ABSTRACT
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical presentations seen in the emergency department, usually presenting as a case of fever, anorexia, and abdominal pain. Curative treatment is an appendectomy with histological examination of the surgical specimen to diagnose the subtypes or causes of appendicitis. One of these subtypes, granulomatous appendicitis, is an uncommon form of appendicitis. This condition can be caused by a multitude of mechanisms, including tuberculosis infections, parasitic infections, fungal infections, mechanical obstruction, or systemic diseases such as Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, among others. Investigations and management should be tailored according to the histologic findings, and patient follow-up should be advised.
