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Primary laryngeal tuberculosis: An unusual cause of hoarseness
Peter Fsadni1, Claudia Fsadni, Brendan Caruana Montaldo
1Department of Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida MSD 2090, Malta. fsadni1@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Tuberculosis (TB) of the larynx is usually associated with concomitant pulmonary TB, but approximately 20% of cases represent primary disease. We report the case of an 85-year-old woman with asthma who presented with a 6-month history of persistent hoarseness. Bronchoscopy confirmed the presence of a lesion in the hemilarynx, and histology identified tuberculoid granulomas that were suggestive of TB. Treatment with a combination of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol led to a complete resolution of symptoms. A high index of suspicion for laryngeal TB is required in patients who present with hoarseness.
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