Tuberculous laryngitis--a one year harvest

Abstract

We present nine patients with tuberculous laryngitis seen in our otolaryngology out-patient department during the year of 1983. Four patients were previously diagnosed as having pulmonary tuberculosis and were receiving or had received treatment for the complaint prior to our consultation. Of the nine patients, eight had positive chest X-rays for pulmonary tuberculosis. Three patients were known to have positive sputum results; in three patients the result was not known, whilst in the remaining three patients the result was recorded as negative. Biopsies done on four patients were compatible with the diagnosis of tuberculous laryngitis. Two of these four were undisputedly confirmed by the presence of Acid-fast Bacilli on histological sections. Two patients demonstrated permanent structural derangement of the larynx as end-result manifestations. The incidence, site and appearance of the lesions, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.