Two rare cases of head and neck tuberculosis

BMJ Case Rep. 2015 Oct 23:2015:bcr2015211897. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-211897.

Abstract

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, which is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity and is still a serious health concern. The fact that extra pulmonary tuberculosis does not have specific examination and radiographic findings and that clinical findings vary depending on the organ in which it is detected cause diagnostic difficulties. The head and neck region is an uncommon site for tuberculosis and tuberculosis can localise in many different places of the head and neck region. In this article, the authors present a case of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis, which clinically mimics nasopharyngeal carcinoma and rare cutaneous tuberculosis of the pinna. A wide knowledge of head and neck tuberculosis, including the disease in the differential diagnosis and carrying out microbiological examinations are necessary for accurate diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ear, External*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Nasopharyngeal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Nasopharyngeal Diseases / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents