ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually affecting the lung, but very rare cases of isolated laryngeal tuberculosis have been reported. PURPOSE: To demonstrate the importance of considering the diagnosis of this disease, which presents with very variable and sometimes misleading clinical and endoscopic features, but for which medical treatment is very effective. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was based on ten cases of laryngeal tuberculosis managed between January 2004 and December 2009. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical and complementary investigation findings and treatment of primary tuberculosis of the larynx in a context of endemic tuberculosis based on a review of the literature. RESULT: In this series, primary tuberculosis of the larynx essentially affected male smokers and drinkers. Clinical and endoscopic signs were totally non-specific and similar to those of laryngeal cancer. Only bacteriological and histological examinations were able to establish the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis was confirmed, antituberculosis chemotherapy was administered for a minimum duration of 6 months with excellent short-term and long-term results. CONCLUSION: Globally, the characteristics of this series are closely correlated with those reported in the literature. Due to the non-specific laryngeal signs observed on clinical examination, clinicians must consider the possibility of laryngeal tuberculosis and must not hesitate to confirm this diagnosis by bacteriological and histological examination
Subject(s)
Tuberculosis, Laryngeal/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Biopsy , Diagnosis, Differential , Drug Therapy, Combination , Dysphonia/etiology , Female , Granuloma, Giant Cell/pathology , HIV Seropositivity/diagnosis , Humans , Laryngeal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Laryngoscopy , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Smoking/adverse effects , Tuberculosis, Laryngeal/drug therapy , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this sinusonasal study was to study several locations of ENT extranodal tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study focused on eight cases of tuberculosis in the cervicofacial region gathered in the ENT department of the Rabat Specialization Hospital (Morocco) between August 2004 and August 2006. They comprise two cases of rhinopharyngeal tuberculosis, two cases of tuberculosis, two cases of endobuccal tuberculosis (mandibular and lingual locations), and two cases of glandular tuberculosis (thyroid and parotid locations). RESULTS: These locations are rarely affected by tuberculosis. The clinical signs as well as radiology and endoscopy are not specific. The final diagnosis is based on histology. Bacillus cultures are necessary when caseum tuberculosis is not found, causing problems of differential diagnosis with granulomatous and malignant lesions. PCR provides quick bacterial antigen detection when cultures are negative. The treatment provides a quick and complete recovery while recurrences are infrequent. CONCLUSION: ENT tuberculosis is rare if excluding the nodal locations. It should be mentioned as a differential diagnosis, especially in endemic areas. Most often, this is a surprise diagnosis.
