Laryngeal tuberculosis

Abstract

Laryngeal lesions observed in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis are most likely tuberculous. Although tuberculosis and carcinoma may be indistinguishable clinically and radiographically, specific radiographic studies better delineate the lesion and may suggest its true etiology. Five cases of laryngeal tuberculosis referred to M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute as carcinoma of the larynx are described and illustrated. In the acute exudative type, inflammatory disease was suspected, but in the chronic localized lesion, carcinoma was the primary consideration. The histologic diagnosis was established by biopsy.