Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: manifestations between 1991 and 2000

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: To present the clinical manifestation of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis.

Study design: Clinical analysis of 23 patients with pathologically confirmed nasopharyngeal tuberculosis was carried out retrospectively.

Setting: Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University. Thailand.

Results: The most common presenting symptom was cervical lymphadenopathy (91.3%). The common locations of nodes were the superior and middle cervical. The abnormalities of the nasopharynx were found in 16 patients. The pathological findings were caseous granuloma with positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in 15 cases, caseous granuloma with negative AFB in 3 cases, and chronic granulomatous inflammation with negative AFB in 5 cases. Pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 8 of 18 patients. Sixteen patients who received complete treatment responded well.

Conclusion: Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis commonly presents with cervical lymphadenopathy. The differential diagnosis of tuberculosis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma is difficult. In the patients who have cervical lymphadenopathy and no other identified causes, biopsy of nasopharynx would give an additive information for diagnosis.