Laryngeal tuberculosis, the great deceiver: A series of 10 cases.

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal involvement is rare in tuberculosis, representing around 1% of all cases of this infection worldwide. Given the larynx' location in the airway, this form of tuberculosis is of particular importance because it is highly contagious. With our hospital being in a high tuberculosis burden area, we propose to characterize the clinical presentation, evolution, and laryngoscopy findings of a series of laryngeal tuberculosis cases in order to reduce misdiagnosis. METHODS: Epidemiological and clinical data from 10 patients diagnosed with laryngeal tuberculosis in the Otorhinolaryngology department of (Blinded for manuscript) between January 2011 and December 2021 were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: There were eight males and two females. Seven patients had a history of smoking and alcohol abuse and four had silicosis. Hoarseness was the most reported symptom (n = 9). The most frequent site of involvement were the true vocal cords (n = 6). All patients but one had concomitant active pulmonary tuberculosis. Patients had full resolution of laryngeal symptoms between 4 and 16 weeks after initiating antituberculosis treatment. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal tuberculosis is indeed a great deceiver. On one hand it can look like a simple polypoid lesion or simulate laryngopharyngeal reflux; but on the other hand its risk factors, symptoms and appearance simulate laryngeal carcinoma like no other. Since most patients present with concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis, all suspect laryngeal lesions should perform a chest radiograph prior to rigid laryngoscopy. Antituberculosis treatment is effective in both alleviating symptoms and reducing the risk of transmission.

Atypical presentation of oral and laryngeal tuberculosis in an adolescent.

Extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) in the adolescent population in the head and neck region may be atypical in the site of involvement, symptomatology and clinical presentation. We report a case of the management of oral and laryngeal TB in an early adolescent female who presented with ulceration over the palate and tonsillar region with uvula destruction and laryngeal symptoms and aim to highlight the atypical extrapulmonary manifestations of TB in the head and neck region in adolescent age group.

Exploring the Complexities: Understanding the Clinicopathological Spectrum of Tuberculosis in the Head-and-neck Region.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) affecting the head-and-neck area can often resemble cancer, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. A better understanding of this condition is necessary for early diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation. This study examines the clinical and pathological characteristics of different types of TB in the head-and-neck region. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed patients diagnosed with TB in the head-and-neck region at a health center between January 1, 2018, and January 1, 2024. The study population consisted of patients who were diagnosed with TB of the head and neck. RESULTS: The study analyzed data from 30 patients, comprising 14 (47%) males and 16 (53%) females, all of whom tested negative for HIV. Most cases (15, 50%) were observed in the age group of 15-24 years, with 5 (15.6%) subjects falling in the age bracket of 0-14 years. Among the types of lesions detected, cervical tubercular adenitis was the most frequently observed lesion, found in 22 (73%) subjects. Females are more susceptible to cervical tubercular adenitis, while males are more likely to experience laryngeal TB. CONCLUSION: The clinical manifestation of TB affecting the head-and-neck region can exhibit a diverse range of symptoms, which may lead to misinterpretation and diagnostic errors. Therefore, health-care practitioners must understand and include the condition in differential diagnoses.

Laryngeal tuberculosis in the early 21st century. Literature review of clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic data, according to SWiM guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: Review of the scientific medical literature dedicated to clinical data, diagnosis and treatment for laryngeal tuberculosis published since the turn of the 21st century. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Search of the Medline, Cochrane and Embase databases for the period 2000-2022. Selection of cohorts and case reports documenting clinical data, diagnosis and treatment for laryngeal tuberculosis. RESULTS: In total, 119 articles were analyzed. Immunodepression, HIV infection, history of lung tuberculosis, general symptoms suggesting tuberculosis, smoking and associated laryngeal cancer were noted in 18%, 3%, 20% and 41% of cases, respectively. No pathognomonic symptoms or signs emerged. Voice impairment, of various types and severity, isolated and/or associated with other signs, was the most frequent laryngeal symptom, in 86% of cases. All laryngeal sites were involved, with numerous and various associations. Impaired laryngeal motion and tracheotomy were noted in 6% and 1% of cases, respectively. Time to diagnosis varied from less than 1month to 36months, for a median 3months, in case reports. Laryngeal tuberculosis was diagnosed bacteriologically with certainty in 28% of cases while diagnosis was based on indirect criteria and/or involvement of another site in the other 72%, with lung involvement in 54%. Treatment duration ranged from 6 to 24months (median, 6months), using 3 to 5 (median: 4) antitubercular antibiotics, with 4 used in 80% of cohorts and 77% of case reports. Overall rates of cure, death, treatment resistance, adverse events, and laryngeal sequelae were 99%, 0.5%, 0.5%, 6% and 5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation and diagnostic difficulty in laryngeal tuberculosis did not change since the end of the 20th century. Quadritherapy is highly effective, with a low resistance rate and few adverse effects or laryngeal sequelae.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of laryngeal tuberculosis combined with respiratory tuberculosis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and prognosis of patients with laryngeal tuberculosis (LTB) combined with respiratory tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 134 patients who underwent endoscopy and were eventually diagnosed with LTB. The patients' demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, endoscopic features, auxiliary examination, imaging examination and prognostic characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: LTB patients had a median age of 45.5 years (range from 12 to 87 years) and a median course of 3.0 months (range from 0.1 to 72 months). The patients' symptoms mainly presented as hoarseness (97.0 %), abnormal sensation of pharyngeal (49.3 %), cough and sputum (41.0 %), pharyngalgia (39.6 %), dysphagia (10.4 %) and dyspnea (8.2 %). The positive rate of tuberculous symptoms was 25.4 %. Endoscopic features showed that the lesions mainly involved the glottis (87.3 %), presenting as unilateral lesions (66.7 %), near-full-length involvement (88.0 %), with mucosal waves significantly reduced (86.3 %), followed by supraglottis (43.3 %), subglottis (24.6 %) and the pharynx (15.7 %). The lesions may present as granulomatous proliferation (66.4 %), ulceration (65.7 %) or swelling and exudation (51.5 %). A total of 75 patients (56.0 %) were finally diagnosed with combined pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), with a positive chest X-ray rate of 25.6 % and a positive chest CT rate of 71.2 %. A total of 42 patients who received anti-tuberculosis treatment were followed up, and 73.8 % of patients had significant improvement in symptoms. The morphology of the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa returned to basically normal (59.4 %) or scar-like (34.4 %). CONCLUSIONS: LTB is usually found in middle-aged men, and patients' symptoms are mainly hoarseness, abnormal sensation of pharyngeal, pharyngalgia, cough and sputum, and can be combined with tuberculous symptoms. These lesions mainly involve multiple subregions, mainly in the glottis, and can be combined with pharyngeal involvement. There were various types of lesions. Half of the patients were complicated with PTB, and chest CT was superior to X-ray in the detection of pulmonary lesions. After regular anti-tuberculosis treatment, the symptoms and morphology of the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa of most patients were significantly improved.

Laryngeal tuberculosis: about 04 cases.

The purpose of this study is to present epidemiological, clinical, radiological, histological characteristics and treatment of laryngeal tuberculosis. It is also aimed at making the point about diagnosis difficulties. This retrospective study was conducted over three years; it concerned 4 cases, 3 males and one female. The average age was 35 years. Three of the 4 cases have had a cervical CT scan. All patients have had a laryngoscopy with biopsy and anatomopathological study. The onset modes of the disease have been progressive for all the patients. Topographical study has shown two epiglottic locations, one at the vocal cords and the other one at the posterior commissure. The diagnosis was orientated in the 3 cases by the CT scan and confirmed by anatomopathological exam in all cases. All patients have received anti-TB drugs with good evolution. The laryngeal location of tuberculosis is unusual. The clinical picture is nonspecific, raising the issue of differential diagnosis with tumor pathology. Sectional imaging and CT scan can guide the diagnosis and a positive diagnosis is often discovered on the occasion of a tumor biopsy of a pseudo-tumor lesion. Treatment is based on anti-TB drugs.

Laryngeal tuberculosis in patients treated with adalimumab: a casual or causal connection?

This article presents two consecutive cases of laryngeal tuberculosis in patients treated with a specific anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha (adalimumab), with a focus on their diagnostic process and therapeutic management. Both patients presented with aspecific chronic laryngeal symptoms that had been worsening for a few months in one case and for almost 1 year in the other one. They were both studied with fibreoptic laryngoscopy and contrast-enhanced CT and MRI scans. In both cases, the laryngeal biopsy proved negative to Ziehl-Neelsen test, while positive to Koch's bacillus sensitive to rifampicin at PCR test. Both patients completely responded to standard antitubercular antibiotic therapy with rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and etambutol protocol.In the differential diagnosis of such patients, laryngeal tuberculosis should be considered due to the reasonable linkage between the immunosuppressant therapy with adalimumab and the tuberculosis infection/reactivation.

[Isolated laryngeal tuberculosis as an uncommon manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in adults: a case report]. / Tuberculose laryngée isolée de l'adulte: localisation extra pulmonaire exceptionnelle (à propos d'un cas).

Isolated laryngeal tuberculosis is rare and sometimes difficult to diagnose. It is the most common cause of laryngeal granuloma. We here report the case of a 58-year-old man, with no particular past medical history, hospitalized due to paroxysmal laryngeal dyspnea, dysphagia to solid foods and dysphonia evolving for 6 months without other associated signs. Laryngoscopic examination showed polyploid formation masking the glottic floor. Histological examination revealed epithelioid and gigantocellular granuloma, without caseous necrosis. Direct microscopic examination and culture were negative. The diagnosis of isolated laryngeal tuberculosis was made based on the endemicity in our country and the absence of other arguments in favor of another type of granulomatosis. Anti-tuberculosis therapy, combined with oral corticosteroids, was indicated based on the presence of severe upper airway edema and symptoms were resolved after 40 days of treatment.

Tuberculosis pulmonar y laríngea: una forma poco frecuente de presentación en la edad pediátrica / Pulmonary and laryngeal tuberculosis: a rare presentation in pediatrics / Tuberculose pulmonar e laríngica: uma apresentação pouco frequente na idade pediátrica

Introducción: la tuberculosis (TB) es una enfermedad infectocontagiosa granulomatosa crónica, producida por Mycobacterium tuberculosis. En Uruguay se ha notificado un aumento en el número de casos, con una incidencia reportada en 2017 de 28,6/100.000 habitantes, siendo de 6,67/100.000 en menores de 15 años. La tuberculosis laríngea es una forma poco frecuente y evolucionada de tuberculosis, que suele manifestarse con disfonía crónica. Su diagnóstico requiere un alto índice de sospecha. Objetivo: describir un caso clínico de presentación poco frecuente en la edad pediátrica. Caso clínico: adolescente de 13 años, sana, vacunas vigentes, con antecedentes de conductas sexuales activas y papilomatosis laríngea diagnosticada por laringoscopía directa como causa de disfonía crónica. Consulta en emergencia por dolor abdominal, constatándose al examen clínico adelgazamiento asociado a síntomas respiratorios y síndrome tóxico bacilar asociado a disfonía crónica de cuatro meses de evolución, por lo cual se plantea tuberculosis laríngea e ingresa para estudio. Niega contacto de tuberculosis. En la radiografía de tórax se constata lesión cavernosa en vértice pulmonar izquierdo. Las baciloscopías de esputo fueron positivas (directo y cultivo) confirmando el planteo de TB pulmonar y laríngea. Se realizó tratamiento antituberculoso supervisado con excelente evolución posterior. Conclusiones: la tuberculosis es una enfermedad reemergente en nuestro país, que requiere un alto índice de sospecha. Su diagnóstico sigue siendo un desafío para los pediatras ya que la confirmación diagnóstica no siempre es posible. En este caso clínico la sospecha clínica frente a una disfonía crónica asociada a síntomas respiratorios fue fundamental para establecer el diagnóstico, a pesar de no contar con nexo epidemiológico.

Introduction: tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious, chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. An increase in the number of cases has been reported in Uruguay, with an incidence reported in 2017 of 28.6/100,000 inhabitants, being 6.67/100,000 in children under 15 years of age. Laryngeal tuberculosis is a rare and evolved form of tuberculosis, which usually shows chronic dysphonia, which requires high levels of suspicion. Objective: to describe a clinical case with a rare presentation in pediatric age. Clinical case: 13-year-old female adolescent, healthy, fully vaccinated, with a history of active sexual behaviors and laryngeal papillomatosis diagnosed by direct laryngoscopy as a cause of chronic dysphonia. The emergency consultation was caused by abdominal pain, confirming the clinical examination weight loss associated with respiratory symptoms and bacillary toxic syndrome associated with chronic dysphonia of four months of evolution, for which laryngeal tuberculosis was considered and she was admitted for screening. She denies having been in contact with tuberculosis. The chest X-ray revealed a cavernous lesion in the left pulmonary apex and sputum smears were positive (direct and culture), confirming the suggestion of pulmonary and laryngeal TB. Supervised anti-tuberculosis treatment was performed with excellent subsequent evolution. Conclusions: tuberculosis is a re-emerging disease in our country, which requires a high level of suspicion. Its diagnosis remains a challenge for pediatricians since diagnostic confirmation is not always possible. In this clinical case, clinical suspicion of chronic dysphonia associated with respiratory symptoms were key factors to establish the diagnosis, despite not having a clear epidemiological link.

Introdução: a tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infecciosa granulomatosa crônica causada pelo Mycobacterium tuberculosis. No Uruguai, houve aumento do número de casos notificados, com uma incidência notificada em 2017 de 28,6/100.000 habitantes, sendo 6,67/100.000 casos de menores de 15 anos. A tuberculose laríngea é uma forma rara e evoluída de tuberculose, que geralmente se manifesta com disfonia crônica, exigindo alto índice de suspeita. Objetivo: descrever um caso clínico de apresentação pouco frequente em idade pediátrica. Caso clínico: menina adolescente de 13 anos, saudável, totalmente vacinada, com história de comportamentos sexuais ativos e papilomatose laríngea diagnosticada por laringoscopia direta como causa de disfonia crônica. Consulta de urgência por dor abdominal, comprovando emagrecimento associado a sintomas respiratórios e síndrome bacilar tóxica associada a disfonia crônica de quatro meses de evolução, para a qual foi considerada tuberculose laríngea e a paciente foi internada para estudo. Ele nega contato com tuberculose. A radiografia de tórax revelou lesão cavernosa em ápice pulmonar esquerdo e as baciloscopias de escarro foram positivas (direta e cultura) confirmando a sugestão de TB pulmonar e laríngea. O tratamento antituberculose supervisionado foi realizado com excelente evolução subsequente. Conclusões: a tuberculose é uma doença reemergente em Uruguai e requer alto índice de suspeita. Seu diagnóstico permanece um desafio para o pediatra, pois a confirmação diagnóstica nem sempre é possível. Neste caso clínico, a suspeita clínica de disfonia crônica associada a sintomas respiratórios foi fundamental para o estabelecimento do diagnóstico, apesar de não ter vínculo epidemiológico.

Laryngeal tuberculosis: a neglected diagnosis.

A 24-year-old woman visited the Ear Nose Throat (ENT) outpatient department with complaints of hoarseness for 2 months not responding to conservative management. Laryngoscopic examination revealed a whitish ulceroproliferative lesion in the anterior commissure and anterior two-thirds of bilateral true vocal cords with surrounding necrosis. In view of the above findings, the patient was planned for biopsy under general anaesthesia. Intraoperative findings showed multiple whitish necrotic friable tissue involving anterior two-thirds of bilateral false vocal cords, ventricle, bilateral true vocal cords, both aryepiglottic folds and laryngeal surface of epiglottis. Postoperative histopathology was consistent with tuberculosis. A pulmonology consultation was taken, and the patient was started on anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. One month post therapy, the voice was symptomatically better. A flexible fibreoptic laryngoscopic examination was done, which revealed almost complete resolution of the lesion with minimal ulceration at the anterior one-third of right true vocal cord.

Tuberculosis laríngea secundaria a foco pulmonar primario inadvertido: caso clínico / Laryngeal tuberculosis secondary to an inadvertent primary pulmonary focus: clinical case

Introducción: La tuberculosis laríngea es una entidad sumamente rara en países del primer mundo, sin embargo, en nuestro medio no es extraño, como país latinoamericano, sospechar esta patología como una de las causas de disfonía y lesiones granulomatosas en la actualidad. La tuberculosis laríngea debe considerarse dentro de las patologías en pacientes con disfonía de larga evolución que no responden al tratamiento común, esta entidad puede ser confundida con neoplasias. Reporte de caso: Se presenta el caso de una mujer en la cuarta década de la vida con disfonía crónica de 6 meses de evolución, que fue remitida para laringoscopia. Se localizaron neoformaciones granulomatosas acompañadas de edema en ambas cuerdas vocales, sometidas a biopsia, con resultados con la tinción de hematoxilina-eosina de células gigantes multinucleadas de Langhans y la tinción Zielh-Nielsen fue positiva para bacilo alcohol ácido resistente. La radiografía de tórax mostró lesiones reticulonodulares sugestivas de tuberculosis pulmonar. Conclusión: Un alto nivel de sospecha y un diagnóstico temprano pueden limitar las complicaciones y facilitar un manejo oportuno de estos casos. Es necesario sospechar de tuberculosis laríngea en pacientes que presentan disfonía crónica, especialmente cuando se asocia con síntomas constitucionales, aunque no siempre los presentan, por otro lado, en algunos casos, no existe asociación con inmunodeficiencia.

Introduction: Laryngeal tuberculosis is an extremely rare entity in first world countries, however, it is not strange in our environment as a Latin American country to suspect this pathology as one of the causes of dysphonia and granulomatous lesions today. Laryngeal tuberculosis should be considered within the pathologies in patients with long-standing dysphonia that do not respond to common treatment, this entity can be confused with neoplasms. Case report: We present the case of a female in the fourth decade of life with chronic dysphonia of six months of evolution, who was referred for laryngoscopy, granulomatous neoformations accompanied by edema in both vocal cords were located, subjected to biopsy with results with hematoxylin staining. Langhans multinucleated giant cell eosin and Zielh-Nielsen staining were positive for acid-fast bacillus. Chest X-ray showed reticule-nodular lesions suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion: A high level of suspicion and an early diagnosis can limit complications and facilitate timely management of these cases. It is necessary to suspect laryngeal tuberculosis in patients with chronic dysphonia, especially when associated with constitutional symptoms, although they do not always present them; on the other hand, in some cases, there is no association with immunodeficiency

Primary tonsillar tuberculosis in a pediatric patient: Case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Tuberculosis is an entity that usually affects the lungs, although extrapulmonary sites can also be involved. Tonsils are rarely affected, especially in the absence of pulmonary disease, primary tonsillar tuberculosis being a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. PATIENT CONCERNS: We present the case of a 14-year-old female teenager, presented to our Pediatric Service with a 14-day history of dysphagia, odynophagia and left reflex otalgia associated with a 5 kg weight loss. Clinical examination revealed mild pharyngeal erythema, marked enlargement of the left tonsil infiltrating the lateral pharyngeal wall and the uvula and painful, mobile, nonadherent to deep bilateral latero-cervical adenopathy. DIAGNOSIS: Positive interferon-gamma release assay (QuantiFERON-TB gold). Mantoux test reading was 16 mm. INTERVENTIONS: During hospitalization, the patient received Clindamycin and Gentamicin for 3 days i.v., with discrete relief of symptoms and inflammatory markers. On the 4th day of hospitalization, treatment with Imipenem/Cilastin is started for 7 days in micro-perfusion, with tonsil hypertrophy decrease in size and favorable clinical evolution. OUTCOME: Tonsil hypertrophy decreased in size and patient had a favorable clinical evolution. At discharge, the patient was given a 6-month course of anti-tuberculous drug. LESSONS: The particularity of this case is represented by the rarity of primary tuberculosis of tonsils in children, with unilateral involvement, displaying at the same time a common issue encountered in the current practice: the limitations and the difficult course of setting the diagnosis due to the involvement of relatives in the medical act.

[The history of tuberculosis of the larynx]. / Zur Geschichte der Kehlkopftuberkulose.

The tuberculosis of the larynx was an incurable deadly infectious disease until the introduction of antituberculous drugs in therapy. Since the 18th century medical specialists investigated this kind of tuberculosis. Progresses of laryngeal diagnostic made possible a local treatment with drugs, operations and experiments with X-rays. After the development of antituberculous drugs, tuberculosis of the larynx became a curable disease.

Tuberculosis in the Head and Neck: Changing Trends and Age-Related Patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changing trends in patient collectives, age-related patterns of manifestation, and diagnostic pathways of patients with extrapulmonary head and neck tuberculosis (TB), and to provide strategies to fasten diagnosis in these patients. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. METHODS: A 10-year retrospective analysis of 35 patients diagnosed with extrapulmonary TB in the head and neck at a tertiary university institution from 2009 to 2019, with special focus on the influence of the patient's age on consideration of TB and clinical patterns. RESULTS: The vast majority of patients younger than 40 years had their origin in countries with high TB burden (P = .0003), and TB was considered very early as a differential diagnosis (P = .0068), while most patients older than 40 years were domestic citizens initially suspected for a malignancy, who more often had an underlying immunosuppressive condition (0.0472). Most frequent manifestations in both groups were the lymph nodes, larynx, and oropharynx. Surprisingly, no differences in the rates of open TB or history of TB infection in the family anamnesis were found. CONCLUSION: The two groups of patients found most often are younger patients migrating from regions with high TB burden and elderly domestic patients suffering from immunosuppressive conditions, with the latter often being misdiagnosed as malignancies. TB remains an important but difficult differential diagnosis, due to the initially unspecific symptoms and the great variety in the presentation of manifestations in the head and neck. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:2701-2705, 2021.

[Comparative analysis of clinical features of primary and secondary laryngeal tuberculosis].

Objective:The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the clinical pattern, diagnosis and treatment in primary and secondary laryngeal and pharyngeal TB. Methods:A retrospective analysis was carried out on 103 patients diagnosed laryngeal tuberculosis in our department. Characteristics of demography, life-style, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment were obtained from medical case records. Clinical analysis of 103 patients with pathologically confirmed laryngeal TB was carried out retrospectively in the second affiliated hospital of Nanchang university in Jiangxi province. Results:Among 103 patients, 64 cases were diagnosed as primary laryngeal TB and 39 cases were diagnosed as secondary laryngeal TB. The most common complaints were hoarseness and odynophagia. The true and the false vocal cords were most commonly involved. Most patients with primary tuberculosis of the larynx present a single, hyperplastic lesion.Secondary laryngeal TB of larynx was characterized by ulcers, edema effusive, multiple sites lesions. The anti-TB treatment was given systemically to all patients. The surgery should be considered if the patient has a laryngeal obstruction. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations and signs of primary and secondary tuberculosis of the larynx are different. Laryngeal tuberculosis is easy to be misdiagnosed as laryngitis and laryngeal tumors. Pathological examination should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

TBC laríngea: una localización poco común de la tuberculosis / Laryngeal tuberculosis: an unusual location for tuberculosis

Según datos de la OMS, la tuberculosis es una de las diez primeras causas de muerte en el mundo y es la primera causa de muerte por un agente infeccioso único. La incidencia de la tuberculosis ha disminuido por término medio un 1,5% anual desde el año 2000 sin embargo el impacto de la pandemia por el SARS-CoV-2 pudiera retardar el diagnóstico y tratamiento de nuevos casos de TB. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 26 años de edad quien consulta por presentar fiebre de predominio vespertino, pérdida de peso y disfonía de 6 meses de evolución. Los BK y cultivos de esputo seriados resultaron negativos. Es referido al Servicio de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía Facial del Hospital Universitario Dr. Luis Gómez López donde se realiza una nasofibrolaringoscopía evidenciándose epiglotis con superficie de aspecto irregular que se extiende hasta aritenoides y zona interaritenoidea y bandas ventriculares edematizadas que no permiten visualizar repliegues vocales. Se realiza microcirugía laríngea para toma de biopsia reportando el estudio histopatológico proliferación de vasos neoformados, espacios intervasculares ocupados por macrófagos y linfocitos, presencia de múltiples lesiones nodulares formadas por macrófagos epiteloides rodeados por un halo de linfocitos y numerosas células gigantes de Langerhans. Se realiza el diagnóstico de tuberculosis laríngea y se inicia tratamiento antituberculoso(AU)

According to the WHO, tuberculosis represents one of the top ten causes of death worldwide and is the number one cause of death from a single infectious agent. The incidence of tuberculosis has decreased an average of 1.5% annually since the year 2000, however the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic could delay the diagnosis and treatment of new cases of TB. We report the case of a 26-year-old male who consulted for fever, weight loss and dysphonia with a duration of 6 months. BK and sputum cultures were negative for M. tuberculosis. The patient is referred to the Otorhinolaryngology and Facial Surgery Clinic of the Dr. Luis Gomez Lopez University Hospital where a nasofibrolaryngoscopy is performed showing an epiglottis with an irregular surface that extends to the arytenoids and interarytenoid zone and edematous ventricular bands that do not allow visualization of vocal folds. Laryngeal microsurgery is performed to obtain a biopsy sample. Histopathology reveals proliferation of newly formed vessels, intervascular spaces occupied by macrophages and lymphocytes, presence of multiple nodular lesions formed by epithelloid macrophages surrounded by a halo of lymphocytes and numerous giant Langerhans cells. Diagnosis of laryngeal tuberculosis is made and antituberculous treatment is initiated(AU)

Leukoplakia or LPR: The Misdiagnosis of Laryngeal Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to reduce the rates of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of laryngeal tuberculosis (LTB). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 3 histopathology-confirmed cases at a tertiary medical center from 2000 to 2018. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with LTB included in this study. Of the 17 patients, 16 patients were male and 1 was female; 11 patients had a history of smoking. Odynophagia was the chief complaint in 6 cases, and 11 patients complained of hoarseness. The appearance of the affected larynx was ranged from diffuse swelling (n = 7, 41.2%), mucosa white lesion (n = 5,29.4%), and granulomatous tumors (n = 2, 11.76%), and these features presented together (n = 2, 11.76%). Seventeen patients with LTB were misdiagnosed as acute epiglottitis in 4 (23.5%) patients, acute laryngitis in 1 (5.9%) patient, leukoplakia in 5 (29.4%) patients, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in 6 (35.3%) patients, and laryngocarcinoma in 1 (5.9%) patient. Chest computed tomography reported old pulmonary tuberculosis in 2 (11.7%) patients, active pulmonary tuberculosis in 7 (41.2%) patients, and normal lung status in 8 (47.1%) patients. Histopathological examination reported Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by revealing epithelioid cell granulomas with Langhans-type giant cells in 14 (82.4%) patients and epithelioid cell granulomas with caseous necrosis and Langhans-type giant cells in 3 (17.6%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal tuberculosis was easily misdiagnosed as acute epiglottitis or leukoplakia because of diffuse swelling of the epiglottis or white lesions over the true vocal cord, especially patients with increasing LTB were misdiagnosed as LPR with the enhancement of LPR awareness among otolaryngologist. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of LTB for chronic intractable laryngitis with failure treatment of proton pump inhibitor and recurrent acute epiglottitis with foreign body injury.