Eight cases of nasal tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the clinical characteristics of nasal tuberculosis and to discuss its diagnostic difficulties.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical analysis.


RESULTS
A total of eight patients presented with nasal tuberculosis during the study period (from January 1989 through December 2006). Six were female and two were male. The patient age varied from 17 to 51 years, with a mean of 31 years. The most commonly involved site was the nasal septum (7 of 8). Perforation of the nasal septum was observed in three cases. Sinus invasion was observed in two cases and required sinus surgery. Six of the cases were a result of primary infections, while two were secondary disease manifestations. All patients were treated with anti-tuberculosis medications, with subsequent improvement with regard to clinical symptoms and physical signs.


CONCLUSIONS
We present the largest number of nasal tuberculosis cases reported in the medical literature from a single institute. Diagnosing nasal tuberculosis requires a high index of suspicion and occasionally the use of experimental drug treatment options.
Kim
Yong Min
YM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejon, Korea.
Kim
Ah Young
AY
Park
Yong Ho
YH
Kim
Dong Hyun
DH
Rha
Ki-Sang
KS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery
D000995:Antitubercular Agents