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Tuberculosis of the tonsil revisited
1College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
West African Journal of Medicine
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is less common now due to effective treatments. This study found that tonsillar granulomata, which can contain TB, are very rare even in patients with active pulmonary TB.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Effective antitubercular therapy and milk pasteurization have significantly reduced global tuberculosis prevalence.
- Tonsillar tuberculosis is now rare, though tonsillar granulomata, occasionally harboring tuberculous organisms, are still observed in histopathology.
- A case of tonsillar granuloma containing tuberculous organisms prompted further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between secondary pulmonary tuberculosis and tonsillar involvement.
- To examine tonsillar tissues from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis presenting with pharyngeal symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of tonsillar tissue.
- Seventeen patients with open pulmonary tuberculosis and pharyngeal symptoms were included.
- Tonsillar tissue was analyzed for the presence of granulomata and tuberculous organisms.
Main Results:
- No granulomata were found in fourteen patients who provided representative tonsillar tissue.
- This finding underscores the rarity of tonsillar involvement in secondary pulmonary tuberculosis.
- The study highlights the infrequent co-occurrence of pulmonary TB and tonsillar granulomata.
Conclusions:
- Tonsillar involvement is an uncommon manifestation of secondary pulmonary tuberculosis.
- The study reinforces the rarity of finding tuberculous organisms within tonsillar granulomata.
- Further research may be warranted to understand the specific factors influencing this rare association.
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