An interesting case of tonsillar tuberculosis in a 10-year-old boy

Extrapulmonary tuberculosıs: an old but resurgent problem

“…Primary involvement is infrequent. It usually develops as a result of hematogenous dissemination (e.g., thyroid) after the lung infection, contact with the infected sputum, or saliva (e.g., eye globe) or through the ingestion of unpasteurized milk (e.g., tonsil, pharynx) [ 27 , 30 , 31 ]. It is generally observed as nonspecific inflammatory soft tissue thickening (Figs.…”

Primary tonsillar tuberculosis in a pediatric patient

“…Although it usually affects the lungs (90%), other organs can be involved, causing extrapulmonary tuberculosis. [1] The most common extrapulmonary site of tuberculosis is represented by the lymph nodes, the nasopharynx and oropharynx, having a less than 5% incidence. [2] Tonsils seem to acquire even in a smaller percentage of the disease due to the thickness of the protective epithelial covering of the oropharyngeal mucosa, to the oral cavity's saprophytes action or because of the antiseptic effect and cleansing action of the saliva.…”

“…Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious malady frequently caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Although it usually affects the lungs (90%), other organs can be involved, causing extrapulmonary tuberculosis [1] . The most common extrapulmonary site of tuberculosis is represented by the lymph nodes, the nasopharynx and oropharynx, having a less than 5% incidence [2] .…”

Pathological changes in palatine tonsils of slaughtered water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Studies in cattle have also shown the development of tonsillar lesions from intranasal inoculation and contact with cattle infected with M. bovis (Cassidy et al 1999). Tuberculosis lesions on the palatine tonsils may also occur through contact with sputum exudate from pulmonary tuberculosis lesions (Cassidy et al 1999, Dhanasekar et al 2020 or by the installation of the agent from the circulating blood (Dhanasekar et al 2020). Thus, in the four cases in the current study, where, besides the palatine tonsils, there were lesions in other organs, it was not possible to state whether the tonsillar lesions were primary or secondary.…”

“…Tuberculosis cases restricted to the tonsils (tonsillar tuberculosis) are described in humans. Although now rare, this form of tuberculosis was most frequent when it was common to drink unpasteurized milk contaminated with M. bovis (Dhanasekar et al 2020).…”