Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T08:23:06.815Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis mimicking exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2011

R Prstačić ,
M Jurlina ,
M Žižić-Mitrečić  and
S Janjanin
R Prstačić*
Affiliation:
University Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Croatia
M Jurlina
Affiliation:
University Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Croatia
M Žižić-Mitrečić
Affiliation:
University Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Croatia
S Janjanin
Affiliation:
University Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Croatia
*
Address for Correspondence: Dr Ratko Prstačić, University Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Kišpatićeva 12, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Fax: +385 (0)1 2367559 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare condition, even in endemic tuberculosis areas. We report a case of primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis from a non-endemic area, which presented with symptoms resembling exacerbation of previously diagnosed chronic rhinosinusitis.

Case report:

A 48-year-old man presented with extreme postnasal drip and an unpleasant nasal odour. Endoscopic examination revealed irregular thickening of the left lateral and posterior wall of the nasopharynx, partially covered with crusts and necrotic tissue. Histopathological study showed typical giant cell epithelioid granulomas with caseous necrosis. Direct examination after Ziehl–Neelsen staining was positive for tuberculosis. After six months of antituberculous triple therapy, endoscopic examination revealed a completely normal nasopharynx.

Conclusion:

To our best knowledge, this is the first published report of primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis in a patient previously diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis. The difficulties in obtaining a proper diagnosis in such a case are discussed.

Keywords

Paranasal SinusesTuberculosisDiagnosis
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 7 , July 2011 , pp. 747 - 749
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Presented as a poster at the First Meeting of the European Academy of Otirhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, 27–30 June 2009, Mannheim, Germany

References

1Percodani, J, Braun, F, Arrue, P, Yardeni, E, Murris-Espin, M, Serrano, E, et al. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. J Laryngol Otol 1999;113:928–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Tse, GM, Ma, TK, Chan, AB, Ho, FN, King, AD, Fung, KS et al. Tuberculosis of the nasopharynx: a rare entity revisited. Laryngoscope 2003;113:737–40CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Srirompotong, S, Yimtae, K, Jintakanon, D. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: manifestations between 1991 and 2000. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004;131:762–4Google Scholar
4Rohwedder, JJ. Upper respiratory tract tuberculosis. Sixteen cases in a general hospital. Ann Intern Med 1974;80:708–13Google Scholar
5Bath, AP, O'Flynn, P, Gibbin, KP. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. J Laryngol Otol 1992;106:1079–80Google Scholar
6al Serhani, AM, al Rikabi, AC, Assiry, MA. Primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: case report and review of the literature. Ear Nose Throat J 1997;76:41–2Google Scholar
7Sithinamsuwan, P, Sakulsaengprapha, A, Chinvarun, Y. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: a case report presenting with diplopia. J Med Assoc Thai 2005;88:1442–6Google Scholar
8Aktan, B, Selimoglu, E, Uçüncü, H, Sütbeyaz, Y. Primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis in a patient with the complaint of snoring. J Laryngol Otol 2002;116:301–3Google Scholar
9Yosunkaya, S, Ozturk, K, Maden, E, Cetin, T. Primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis in a patient with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Med 2008;9:590CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10King, AD, Ahuja, AT, Tse, GM, van Hasselt, AC, Chan, AB. MR imaging features of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: report of three cases and literature review. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2003;24:279–82Google Scholar
11Noussair, L, Bert, F, Leflon-Guibout, V, Gayet, N, Nicolas-Chanoine, MH. Early diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis by a new procedure combining broth culture and PCR. J Clin Microbiol 2009;47:1452–7Google Scholar