Primary Oropharyngeal Tuberculosis—A Differential Diagnosis to Malignancy

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a communicable disease manifesting as pulmonary and extra pulmonary infection. Extra pulmonary tuberculosis involving pharynx is usually secondary to active pulmonary tuberculosis. Primary oropharyngeal tuberculosis is rare and has been reported in association with immunocompromised states like HIV-AIDS and chronic alcoholism. It has very unusual clinical presentation and sometimes mimics malignancy. We report herewith two cases of primary oropharyngeal tuberculosis, clinically mimicking a malignancy, in immunocompetent adult patients. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose pharyngeal tuberculosis in patients presenting with ulceroproliferative mass in oropharynx. Histopathological findings of characteristic tuberculous granuloma are confirmatory. Anti-tuberculous therapy gives excellent results within two months of commencing the treatment.

Varied Presentation of Oropharyngeal Tuberculosis: Review of Cases

“…The salivary enzymes with microbicidal action are lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, and lactoferrin. The infection is encountered in patients with poor immunity due to alcoholism, HIV infection, or any breach because of inflammation or trauma to the mucosa, tooth extraction, or poor oro-dental hygiene which may provide a route of entry for M.tb [ 6 ].…”