A Case of Primary Tuberculosis of the Paranasal Sinuses

Abstract

Tuberculosis of the paranasal sinus is a rare disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis. Although the worldwide incidence of tuberculosis is declining, the diagnosis of primary paranasal tuberculosis remains challenging and cannot be ruled out in patients presenting with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis after adequate surgical and medical treatment. We experienced a case of paranasal tuberculosis with no evidence of previous tuberculosis infection. It was diagnosed after a surgical biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation and caseous necrosis. The patient responded well to antituberculosis drug therapy and became free of symptoms after 7 months of treatment. We report our findings in this case with a review of the recent literature.

Keywords

• tuberculosis
• paranasal sinus
• nasal cavity