American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 39-45, January 2006

Tuberculosis in ear, nose, and throat practice: its presentation and diagnosis

This paper was presented at the 56th Annual Conference of Association of Otolaryngologists of India in January 2004 at Kolkata, India.

  • Bhat Nalini, M.S. (E.N.T)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of ENT, BARC Hospital, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai-400094, India. Tel.: +91 22 25598181/82.
    • ,
  • Subramaniam Vinayak, E (D.L.O)

      Affiliations

    • Tel.: +91 22 25598181.

Department of ENT, BARC Hospital, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, India

Received 4 April 2005

Abstract 

Purpose

The aim of this study was to increase awareness of the different presentations of head and neck tuberculosis (TB) and to discuss its diagnostic difficulties.

Materials and method

A retrospective analysis of patients who presented to us, at a secondary referral hospital, primarily with TB of head and neck was done from January 1999 to July 2003.

Results

A total of 117 patients presented with primary head and neck TB during the study period. Most of these (95%) had cervical lymphadenopathy, 2 patients had laryngeal TB, and there was 1 patient each of TB of cervical spine, oropharynx, ear, and retropharyngeal abscess. Forty-one were males, and 76 were females. Thirty percent of cases had associated lung or other organ TB. Nine percent gave history of previous or subsequent TB.

Conclusions


1.Diagnosing TB requires a high index of suspicion.

2.Tuberculosis of the cervical lymph nodes is the commonest presentation followed by laryngeal TB.

3.Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a reliable and easy way to diagnose TB. However, newer diagnostic tests will increase the yield of positive cases and should be used whenever required.

4.In the larynx, the vocal cords were the commonest site affected and laryngeal TB need not be associated with lung TB or positive sputum always.

5.Patients who have TB of head and neck must be investigated to exclude pulmonary or systemic TB.

6.In cases of previous or subsequent TB infection, culture and drug sensitivity is indicated to reduce the problem of multiple drug resistance.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0196-0709(05)00134-1

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2005.07.005

American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 39-45, January 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution