Clinicopathological review of tubercular laryngitis in 32 cases of pulmonary Kochs

Abstract

Purpose: The aim is to study the current clinical features of tubercular laryngitis in adult patients with pulmonary involvement in the absence of other nontubercular comorbidities.

Materials and methods: Medical records of histopathology confirmed cases with pulmonary Kochs in a tertiary medical center of a developing country from 1993 to 2007.

Results: Thirty-two biopsy-proven cases of laryngeal tuberculosis with pulmonary involvement were found. Patients' ages ranged from 16 to 65 years. The male-to-female ratio was 4.3:1. Hoarseness of voice was the commonest symptom. Most of them were associated with advanced fibrocavitary tuberculosis of the lungs. In the larynx, multiple, granulomatous, bilateral lesions were the commonest. Most of these lesions could be reversed with appropriate antituberculous treatment.

Conclusion: Laryngeal tuberculosis with classic presentation continues to exist in developing countries. It can be the very first indication that the patient has tuberculosis. Hence, the otolaryngologist needs to remain vigilant to consider it in the differential diagnosis of chronic laryngeal disease.