An unusual presentation of oesophageal tuberculosis

Oesophageal tuberculosis secondary to tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy is a very unusual presentation of adult tuberculosis. We report a young patient who presented with anorexia and weight loss. The chest radiograph and CT scan revealed mediastinal lymphadenopathy causing extrinsic oesophageal compression on the barium swallow. This was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Four weeks later, because of spontaneous partial relief in dysphagia, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was repeated and revealed an ulcerated lesion with nodular margins at the mid-oesophagus. Biopsy from the ulcer margin revealed non-caseating granulomas. The patient had complete relief of dysphagia and other symptoms within 3 weeks of start of antituberculosis therapy.