Laryngeal tuberculosis: a series of 46 patients.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of laryngeal tuberculosis is declining after the advent of anti-tuberculous drugs. The disease itself is changing according to our experience, too. The changing pattern is our interest.


METHODS
A series of 46 cases of laryngeal tuberculosis seen in our institution between 1980 and 1995 were reviewed retrospectively to assess the various features of the disease.


RESULTS
The results showed a mean age of 48 years and a sex ratio of 2:1. Hoarseness is the most frequent presenting symptom (80%), and sore throat (52%) is another important symptom. The frequent locations of lesions are the true cords (57%), epiglottis (39%), false cords (35%), arytenoids (24%) and posterior commissure (7%). Laryngeal tuberculosis was the most common initial working diagnosis before a definite pathological report was completed. In 85% of the patients the disease was transmitted by bronchogenic route, and in the others it was primary laryngeal tuberculosis. Laryngeal tuberculosis responds well to early treatment with anti-tuberculous chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical presentation of laryngeal tuberculosis is changing. It is necessary to detect the disease early to prevent the development of severe sequalae or mortality.
Tu
H Y
HY
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Li
H Y
HY
Huang
T S
TS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014387:Tuberculosis, Laryngeal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy