Laryngeal tuberculosis: a review of 26 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical characteristics of laryngeal tuberculosis.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Medical records of 26 histopathology-confirmed cases in a tertiary medical center from 1992 to 2006.


RESULTS
The female patients were significantly younger than male patients. Hoarseness is the most common symptom (84.6%) because true vocal fold is most commonly involved (80.8%). Infection usually involves unilateral (66.7%) and right-side larynx but multiple subsites of the larynx (57.7%). The appearance of the affected larynx may have mixed features and change before diagnosis. Laryngeal tuberculosis is usually misdiagnosed as laryngeal cancer, especially in patients with malignant signs such as enlarged cervical lymph nodes and vocal fold immobility. Chest film is better than sputum examinations for screening.


CONCLUSIONS
We should be especially alert about TB infection when facing young female patients with unusual laryngeal lesions. Extensive laser excision before diagnosis should be avoided because after antituberculous treatment, prognosis is usually good and vocal fold immobility could be reversible.
Wang
Chen-Chi
CC
Department of Otolaryngology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. ccwang@vghtc.org
Lin
Chang-Chun
CC
Wang
Ching-Ping
CP
Liu
Shih-An
SA
Jiang
Rong-San
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D007830:Larynx / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014387:Tuberculosis, Laryngeal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000382:microbiology; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000382:microbiology