Base of Tongue Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Chiesa Estomba, Carlos; Araujo Da Costa, Ana; Rivera Schmitz, Teresa; Vaamonde Lago, Pedro

doi:10.22038/ijorl.2015.3824

Base of Tongue Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck, University Hospital of Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain.

² Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.

10.22038/ijorl.2015.3824

Abstract

Introduction:
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that has displayed increasing incidence in the last decades. It is estimated that up to 20% of tuberculosis cases affect extra-pulmonary organs. In the ENT area, soft palate and tongue are the least probable locations.

Case Report
A 62-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and treatment with corticosteroids and Adalimumab, developed a foreign body sensation in the pharynx accompanied by a sore throat and halitosis. The laryngoscopy with a 70 degree rigid telescope showed an ulcerated hypertrophic lesion in the right vallecula of about 2-3 cm in the base of the tongue. Acid-alcohol resistant bacilli were found positive for M. tuberculosis, through the Ziehl Neelsen method and Löwenstein culture the patient was treated with tuberculostatic medication.
Conclusion:
TB is a possible diagnosis when in the presence of an ulcerated lesion at the base of the tongue, accompanied by sore throat, dysphagia, or foreign body sensation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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