title: [Head and neck tuberculosis - still current problem in ENT practice].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is estimated that between XVI and XIX century one fourth of European population died of tuberculosis. Nowadays tuberculosis is still one of the most important infectious diseases. In 2009 estimately 9 million new cases were registered worldwide, mortality due tuberculosis reached 1.5 million. In Poland extrapulmonary tuberculosis is rare (7% of overall morbidity) and most commonly affects pleura, lymph nodes, bones, joints and genitourinary system. Head and neck tuberculosis is rare and causes many diagnostics problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of case histories of patients admitted to ENT Department of Silesian Medical University in Katowice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1993 and 2010 four cases of head and neck tuberculosis were diagnosed in our Clinic. Two of patients were admitted to the hospital with symptoms of laryngeal tumor such as difficulty in swallowing. During direct laryngoscopy tissue specimens were taken. Examination of the third patient showed tumor located below left angle of mandibule. During superficial parotidectomy tumor was removed. In the fourth registered case tuberculosis manifested as tumor of nasopharynx. In every case which is mentioned above pathology reports revealed epithelioid cell granulomas with caseous necrosis typical for tuberculosis. Patients underwent tuberculostatic treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rare occurrence and lack of characteristic symptoms of head and neck tuberculosis often lead to misdiagnosis. Histopathological examination is the most important diagnostic procedure. Microbiological examination is difficult in extrapulmonary tuberculosis, because of low concentration of pathogens in specimens. Tuberculostatic therapy is the leading method of treatment in every case of tuberculosis.
authors: Katedra i Klinika Laryngologii Śląskiego, Uniwersytetu Medycznego. jmarkow1@poczta.onet.pl
authors: Jarosław
authors: J
authors: Markowski
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Witkowska
authors: Tatiana
authors: T
authors: Gierek
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Pasternak
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Ciupińska-Kajor
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Kajor
authors: Jarosław
authors: J
authors: Paluch
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Smółka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014387:Tuberculosis, Laryngeal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents