Laryngeal involvement in a patient with active postprimary tuberculosis: Case report of a rare extrapulmonary manifestation

Abstract

A 43-year-old woman was found to have active post-primary tuberculosis and a lateral neck radiograph showing a thickened epiglottis. Bronchoscopy-guided biopsies of the epiglottis and lung were acid fast bacilli stain positive. Histopathology from both showed multiple caseating granulomas. The patient’s condition improved with RIPE therapy. This case illustrates the importance for physicians to be aware of possible laryngeal involvement in tuberculosis and that it can present even without evidence of active or latent tuberculosis.

Keywords

• Laryngitis
• Tuberculosis
• Odynophagia
• Dysphonia
• Extrapulmonary tuberculosis