Primary Conjunctival Tuberculosis

Abstract

A 12-year-old girl was referred to our clinic because of unilateral conjunctivitis not responding to treatment. In the left eye, lower bulbar and tarsal conjunctiva had a polypoidal appearance due to micronodules and there was a subconjunctival nodular mass in the inferior fornix. Systemic examination was unremarkable except for a left preauricular lymphadenopathy. Excision biopsy of the subconjunctival mass revealed a granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis, but acid-fast bacilli (AFB) was negative. Fine needle-aspiration biopsy of the preauricular lymph node was performed. In microbiological examination, both AFB and mycobacterial culture were positive. The isolated mycobacteria strains were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and full remission was achieved with 6 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Although primary tuberculous conjunctivitis is a very rare condition, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of treatment-resistant unilateral conjunctivitis. For definitive diagnosis, microbiological and histopathological examinations should be performed both in conjunctiva and regional lymph node.

Tuberculous corneal ulcer with hypopyon: A case report

“…However, direct involvement by the bacilli is not uncommon and has been reported widely in the literature. [ 1 6 ] Corneal involvement in ocular tuberculosis includes interstitial keratitis,[ 7 ] disciform keratitis,[ 8 ] and stromal keratitis. [ 9 ] Similarly, the reports on hypopyon uveitis in association with tuberculous infection are increasing in number.…”

Ophthalmic manifestations of tuberculosis

“…Conjunctiva: Eyre et al reviewed 206 cases of conjunctival TB and described the classic findings as chronic conjunctivitis with lesions demonstrating ulcerative, nodular, hypertrophic, granulomatous, and pedunculated masses in appearances [8].…”