Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vvkck Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T20:42:15.841Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Laryngeal tuberculosis at the end of the 20th century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

D. C. Kandiloros
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
T. P. Nikolopoulos*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
E. A. Ferekidis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
A. Tsangaroulakis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
J. E. Yiotakis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
D. Davilis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
G. K. Adamopoulos
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
*
Address for correspondence: Thomas P. Nikolopoulos, Ph.D., 37 Rydale Rd, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 3GS. Fax: 0115 - 9709748

Abstract

Despite the dramatic reduction in the incidence of laryngeal tuberculosis after the 1950s, the topic has now gained new interest due to claims that the disease has changed its clinical pattern. In the past, the typical patient was 20–40 years old with ulcerated laryngeal lesions, perichondritis, and advanced cavitary lung disease. We studied nine cases of laryngeal tuberculosis confirmed by histological examination. The microlaryngoscopy revealed tumour-like lesions and/or chronic non-specific laryngitis. There were no significant ulcerations or signs of perichondritis. The patients' ages ranged from 48.5 years to 69.3 years (mean, 59.4 years). In three of our patients (33 per cent) we did not find any pulmonary involvement, thus suggesting primary laryngeal tuberculosis or haematogenous spread. In conclusion, the numerous physicians who deal with the various laryngeal symptoms and diseases should be aware of the existence of laryngeal tuberculosis and the changing patterns of the disease (at least in the developed countries).

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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.)

References

Couldery, A. D. (1990) Tuberculosis of the upper respiratory tract misdiagnosed as Wegener's granulomatosis - an important distinction. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 104: 255258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Godlee, F. (1993) Tuberculosis - a global emergency. British Medical Journal (S. A. edition) 1: 694.Google Scholar
Levenson, M. J., Ingerman, M.. Grimes, C., Robbett, W. F. (1984) Laryngeal tuberculosis. Laryngoscope 94: 10941097.Google Scholar
Nakajima, H. (1993) Tuberculosis: a global emergency. World Health 46 (4): 3.Google Scholar
Rupa, V., Bhanu, T. S. (1989) Laryngeal tuberculosis in the eighties - an Indian experience. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 103: 864868.Google Scholar
Scully, R. E., Mark, E. J., McNeely, B. U. (1983) Presentation of a case. New England Journal of Medicine 309(25): 15691574.Google Scholar
Singh, B., Baiwally, A. N., Nash, M., Har-El, G., Lucente, F. E. (1996) Laryngeal tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients: a difficult diagnosis. Laryngoscope 106: 12381240.Google Scholar
Small, P. M., Schecter, G. F., Goodman, P. C., Sande, M. A., Chaison, R. E., Hopewell, P. C. (1991) Treatment of tuberculosis in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. New England Journal of Medicine 324: 289294.Google Scholar
Spence, D. P. S., Hotchkiss, J., Williams, C. S. D., Davies, P. D. O. (1993) Tuberculosis and poverty. British Medical Journal 307: 759761.Google Scholar
Swallow, C. E., McAdams, H. P., Colon, E. (1994) Tuberculosis manifested by a laryngeal mass on CT scans. American Journal of Radiology 163: 179180.Google Scholar
Taylor, H. K., Nathanson, L. (1934) A roentgenologic study of tuberculosis of the larynx and neck. American Journal of Radiology 32: 589607.Google Scholar
Thompson, St. C. (1924) Tuberculosis of the larynx: its significance to the physician. British Medical Journal 2: 841844.Google Scholar
Thompson, St. C. (1955) Tuberculosis of the larynx. In Diseases of the Nose and Throat (Negus, V. E., ed.), Cassell and Co. Ltd., London, pp 878879.Google Scholar
Tong, M. C. F., Van Hasselt, C. A. (1993) Tuberculous laryngitis. Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 109: 965966.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williams, R. G., Douglas-Jones, T. (1995) Mycobacterium marches back. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 109: 513.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed