Pharyngeal tuberculosis

PURPOSE: To increase awareness of tuberculosis (TB) as an important differential diagnosis of lesions in the pharynx and discuss its presentation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included nine patients (2 males and 7 females); each with a diagnosis of primary pharyngeal tuberculosis (PTB). Of these, 3 had nasopharyngeal TB, 5 had tonsillar TB, and 1 had hypopharyngeal TB. The diagnostic criteria were either positive culture, positive smear, or histopathologic features of caseating granuloma consistent with TB in the biopsy specimen and a response to treatment. RESULTS: All patients had primary infection. The main presenting symptom in all nasopharyngeal TB was neck mass, whereas tonsillar TB patients presented with sore throats or discomfort. Dysphagia was the presenting symptom in hypopharyngeal TB. Six patients (3 with nasopharyngeal TB and 3 with tonsillar TB) had cervical adenopathy. The smear for acid-fast bacillus was positive in 4 patients (44.4%); culture was positive in 2 patients (22.2%). Histopathologic features of caseating granuloma, consistent with TB, were positive in all patients who received antituberculous medications. CONCLUSION: Otolaryngologists should consider pharyngeal TB as one of the differential diagnosis of lesions of the pharynx especially in those countries where TB is endemic.