Clinical manifestation of laryngeal tuberculosis

Abstract EN

Background : Prevalence of laryngeal tuberculosis is rising due to the increase in risk factors like HIV / AIDS.

Any part of the larynx can be affected.

Diagnosis depends on high index of suspicion.

Objectives : To evaluate the clinical manifestations due to localized laryngeal tuberculosis and their association with pulmonary TB.

Patients and Methods : This is a prospective study conducted in ENT Hospital-Khartoum, Sudan from September 2004 to November 2006.

All tuberculous patients with laryngeal symptoms and those diagnosed histologically to have laryngeal tuberculosis were included.

Results : Eight patients were studied ; they were five males and three females, with age range between 12-70 years (mean 41years).

Strider, dysphonia and dysphagia were the main complaints.

Ulcers and nodules were the main findings in all parts of the larynx.

Conclusion : Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is not mandatory for the diagnosis of laryngeal tuberculosis.

Cases are picked up in routine direct laryngoscopy and biopsy for prolonged dysphonia and / or those with known pulmonary tuberculosis who developed laryngeal symptoms.