Primary oro-pharyngeal tuberculosis mimicking as malignancy

Abstract

Primary oropharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare entity and accounts for 0.05-5% of all cases of tuberculosis cases. We report here a case of 20-year-old female with primary oropharyngeal tuberculosis. The patient initially presented with an ulcer-proliferative growth on the right tonsil. Subsequently, after a delay of 6 months due to noncompliance of the advice given, she presented with extensive involvement of the oropharynx. The diagnosis of primary tuberculosis was made after histopathological examination and cytological examination for exclusion of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well. In endemic region young patients presenting with ulcer-proliferative growth on oropharynx, a high degree of suspicion for tuberculosis should be made. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with anti-tubercular drugs results in a good treatment outcome with complete resolution of symptoms and signs.

Keywords

• Acid fast bacilli
• malignancy
• oropharynx
• tuberculosis