Epiglottic Tuberculosis: Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Case Report and Review of the Literature

• Published in: Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology Vol. 110; no. 2; pp. 197 - 201
• Main Authors: Richter, Bernhard, Fradis, Milo, Köhler, Gabriele, Ridder, Gerd Jürgen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.02.2001; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epiglottis; Humans; Incidence; Laryngoscopy; Male; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal - complications; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal - drug therapy; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - complications; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - drug therapy; larynx; epiglottis; tuberculosis
• ISSN: 0003-4894; 1943-572X
• DOI: 10.1177/000348940111000218

A case of a 40-year-old man with tuberculous involvement of the epiglottis suffering from unsuspected pulmonary tuberculosis is described. The laryngeal lesions were primarily considered to be highly suspicious for a neoplastic process rather than an infectious one. After diagnosis, the patient was treated according a standard protocol and followed up for a period of 2 years. He is still free of disease. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, pathological findings, and therapy of the condition are described. The differential diagnosis and management of epiglottic tuberculosis are reviewed and discussed. Even though these cases are rare, otorhinolaryngologists should keep in mind the possibility of tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal tumors, as the incidence of tuberculosis in developed countries is steadily increasing.