Tuberculous laryngitis was considered common during pre-antibiotic area but after the effective antitubercular medication, the incidence of laryngeal tuberculosis had decreased to less than one percent2. Clinical presentation is mostly unclear but usually presents with odynophagia, cough, hoarseness of voice and frequently confused with other diseases, more importantly fungal laryngitis. This is a case of a diagnostic dilemma of an immunocompetent 55-year-old male presenting with odynophagia, dysphagia and hoarseness of voice that was initially managed as a case of fungal laryngitis due to history of prolonged use of dexamethasone and findings of leukoplakia in laryngoscopy. Despite adequate time for treatment, no significant improvement was noted. Acid fast bacilli microscopy tested negative. A previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment and chest radiographs revealing fibrosis on both upper lungs puts tuberculous laryngitis as one of the differentials. Sputum GeneXpert/RIF taken and tested positive, hence lead to the diagnosis of tuberculous laryngitis. Guideline-based quadruple anti-tubercular therapy started and had showed a positive response. Laryngeal tuberculosis (LTB) requires a high index of suspicion since it mimics various laryngeal diseases such as fungal laryngitis or malignancy. Clinicians should always be aware of the atypical clinical features of laryngeal tuberculosis and the possibility of primary laryngeal tuberculosis, for early diagnosis and prompt treatment, thus preventing morbid complications. A positive mycobacterial culture along with a typical histopathological appearance remain the cornerstone of diagnosis, but sputum AFB in microscopy and GeneXpert/RIF must not be ignored as these can be cost-effective diagnostic alternatives.
Tuberculosis, Laryngeal

Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Larynx ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, histologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of primary mucosal tuberculosis (TB) in the head and neck region.

METHODSForty-seven cases of primary mucosal TB of the head and neck region were studied by hematoxylin-eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen stains. The clinical and pathologic features were analyzed with review of the literature.

RESULTSThe patients included 26 male and 21 female, with mean age 47.1 years (range 14-84 years). There were three sinonasal TB, 19 nasopharyngeal TB, two oropharyngeal TB, 18 laryngeal TB, four middle ear TB, one salivary gland TB and one laryngeal TB complicating laryngeal cancer. The initial symptoms were nasal obstruction, mucopurulent rhinorrhea, epistaxis, snoring, hoarseness, dysphagia, odynophagia, serous otitis, hearing loss, tinnitus, and otalgia. Physical examination result was variable, from an apparently normal mucosa, to an evident mass, or a mucosa with an adenotic or swollen appearance, ulcers, leukoplakic areas, and various combinations thereof. CT and MRI findings included diffuse thickening, a soft-tissue mass, calcification within the mass and bone destruction resembling malignancy. Histologic examination showed granulomas with a central necrotic focus surrounded by epithelioid histiocytes and multinucleated Langhan's giant cells. Acid-fast bacilli were difficult to demonstrate but found in 13/45 cases. Follow-up data were available in 42 patients.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary TB arising in the head and neck mucosa is rare. It may mimic or co-exist with other conditions. The characteristic histopathology is a granuloma with central caseous necrosis and Langhans'giant cells. Identification of acid-fast bacilli and bacteriologic culture confirm the diagnosis of mycobacterial disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antitubercular Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; complications ; microbiology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; complications ; microbiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculin Test ; Tuberculosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; complications ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Oral ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Young Adult

Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Larynx ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; diagnosis

PURPOSE: To discuss computed tomography (CT) evaluation of the etiology of vocal cord paralysis (VCP) due to thoracic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From records from the past 10 years at our hospital, we retrospectively reviewed 115 cases of VCP that were evaluated with CT. Of these 115 cases, 36 patients (23 M, 13 F) had VCP due to a condition within the thoracic cavity. From these cases, we collected the following information: sex, age distribution, side of paralysis, symptom onset date, date of diagnosis, imaging, and primary disease. The etiology of VCP was determined using both historical information and diagnostic imaging. Imaging procedures included chest radiograph, CT of neck or chest, and esophagography or esophagoscopy. RESULTS: Thirty-three of the 36 patients with thoracic disease had unilateral VCP (21 left, 12 right). Of the primary thoracic diseases, malignancy was the most common (19, 52.8%), with 18 of the 19 malignancies presenting with unilateral VCP. The detected malignant tumors in the chest consisted of thirteen lung cancers, three esophageal cancers, two metastatic tumors, and one mediastinal tumor. We also found other underlying etiologies of VCP, including one aortic arch aneurysm, five iatrogenic, six tuberculosis, one neurofibromatosis, three benign nodes, and one lung collapse. A chest radiograph failed to detect eight of the 19 primary malignancies detected on the CT. Nine patients with lung cancer developed VCP between follow-ups and four of them were diagnosed with a progression of malignancy upon CT evaluation of VCP. CONCLUSION: CT is helpful for the early detection of primary malignancy or progression of malignancy between follow-ups. Moreover, it can reveal various non-malignant causes of VCP.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/complications/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Diseases/*complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications ; Vocal Cord Paralysis/*etiology/*radiography

OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency for secondary laryngeal tuberculosis through an analysis on the clinical features of patients with this disease. METHOD: A retrospective study was made among 49 cases with laryngeal tuberculosis treated in Tibetan General Hospital of Chinese PLA, and the clinical data were carefully analyzed to summarize the clinical experience of this disease. RESULT: Of 49 patients, 24 cases had 1 year history, 11 cases had 1 to 3 years, 9 cases had 3 to 5 years, 5 cases had 5 years or more. Thirty-eight patients had the history of tuberculosis and 11 had none. Thirty-four patients had taken anti-tuberculosis drugs but none had standard therapy as demanded. All cases had mild general symptoms (mild fever, night sweats, weight loss, et al) and atypical local symptoms (hoarseness, sore throat). Therefore, 42 cases were misdiagnosed as non-specific chronic laryngitis, of which 15 cases got worse after oral administration or inhaling of steroid hormones. Seven persons were misdiagnosed as laryngeal cancer. All patients were confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis by X ray exam or CT scanning. Twelve cases had strong positive PPD tests and 2 cases were detected positive by sputum smear. All patients was treated by standard systematic and local chemical therapy against tuberculosis (inhaling of antituberculosis drugs for 1 to 2 months). All were cured but one died in a road accident, and none had recurrence after 1- to 9- year follow-up. CONCLUSION All of those the patients with long period hoarseness and sore throat should take chest CT scan or X-ray exam for the highest incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis at high altitudes. CT scanning is the prefer for its high resolution. Pathological biopsy and diagnostic therapy should be taken to make accurate diagnosis. Usually steroid hormones should not be recommended.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Altitude ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibet ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

Encephalocele ; pathology ; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis ; pathology ; Histiocytosis, Sinus ; pathology ; Humans ; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases ; pathology ; Pathology ; trends ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristic and diagnosis of modern laryngeal tuberculosis. METHOD: A retrospective research among 33 patients of laryngeal tuberculosis, with definitive pathological result, had been done in the laryngeal-endoscope room in our department. RESULT: The main symptoms of laryngeal tuberculosis are hoarseness and sore throat. Most of the patients did not accompany with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) (63.6%). Few of them accompany with low-grade fever, night sweat and malnutrition (24.2%). There are three types in the laryngeal-endoscope vision: edema type, hyperplasia type and ulcer exudation type. The positive rates of PPD and phlegm bacteria examination are respectively 87.9% and 68.4%. There can be seen in the pathological slides the interstitial phagocytes and giant cell reaction. Granuloma consisting of epithelioid cell and Langhans' cells is coexistent with necrotic tissue. Cheese necrosis is the typical characteristic of the disease. CONCLUSION Severe local symptoms of laryngeal with slightly general symptoms are the clinical characteristics of modern laryngeal tuberculosis. The diagnosis of it depends mainly on the process of the disease, laryngeal-endoscope examination and PPD examination combined with phlegm bacteria examination. And the final diagnosis is based on the pathological biopsy and tubercular bacillus culturing.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical manifestations of laryngeal tuberculosis and its laryngoscopic characteristics.

METHODClinical analysis of 36 laryngeal tuberculosis cases confirmed pathologically was carried out retrospectively.

RESULTSThe patients' ages ranged from 19 to 78 years old (median 39.5 years old). The male to female ratio was 1.8 to 1. The most frequent chief complaint was hoarseness (83.3%). The true vocal cord and the false vocal cord were usually found involved by fibrolaryngoscope observations. The lesions appearances were mainly the proliferation such as nodules or granules. The laryngostroboscopy demonstrated that the wave of the mucosa and vibration of the involved vocal cords were markedly reduced or disappeared. Among 24 patients with multiple lesions in the larynx, 19 (79.2%) had active pulmonary tuberculosis,while 9 (75.0%) had normal lung status among 12 patients with single lesions in the throat. All the patients received a full course of antituberculosis treatment. The results of the antituberculous medication was satisfactory in all 26 cases patients who can be followed up, while 10 cases were lost for the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSThe local clinical manifestations of laryngeal tuberculosis is nonspecific, while the whole manifestation is not apparent. The lesions commonly involve the true vocal cord and the false vocal cord. It can even occur without pulmonary tuberculosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Larynx ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although laryngeal tuberculosis is not common, it still occurs with an increasing incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. The clinical pattern and spread mechanism of this disease have also changed as well. This study was performed to examine the current propensity seen in laryngeal tuberculosis and the clinical characteristics of this disease in patients showing atypical clinical pattern. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed 60 cases of laryngeal tuberculosis diagnosed from 1994 to 2004 in the department of otorhinolaryngology at Severance Hospital by evaluating clinical and videostroboscopic records. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 25 to 78 years, with their average age being 49.7 years. The ratio between men and women was 1.9 : 1. The major symptom encountered was hoarseness (96.6%). Clinically, granulomatous (n=22) and ulcerative types (n=11) of laryngeal tuberculosis were still prevalent, however, the incidence of atypical types such as polypoid (n=16) and nonspecific (n=11) were on the rise. Among 27 cases that showed polypoid or nonspecific types, unilateral lesion was seen in 20 cases (74%). The most frequently affected area by this disease was true vocal cord, followed by false vocal cord, epiglottis, arytenoids and posterior commissure. Active pulmonary tuberculosis was present in 28 (46.7%), inactive pulmonary tuberculosis in 20 (33.3%), normal lung status in 12 cases (20%). Primary laryngeal tuberculosis was present in 9 cases (15%). Single lesion, polypoid and nonspecific type were the prevalent characteristics found in patients with inactive tuberculosis or normal lung status. CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware of changes in the clinical pattern of laryngeal tuberculosis, which pose serious complications and risk of spreading.
Epiglottis ; Female ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laryngeal Diseases ; Larynx ; Lung ; Male ; Otolaryngology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ulcer ; Vocal Cords