Tuberculosis of the larynx. Today

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Laryngeal tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
• It often co-exists with pulmonary TB, necessitating careful diagnosis and management.
• Understanding the epidemiological and clinical features is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of laryngeal tuberculosis.
• To identify the most frequently affected laryngeal sites.
• To evaluate the efficacy of anti-TB drug regimens.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 41 laryngeal tuberculosis cases diagnosed between 1975 and 1985.
• Analysis of patient demographics, pulmonary TB status, affected laryngeal sites, and treatment protocols.
• Assessment of treatment outcomes with various anti-TB drug combinations.

Main Results:

• Laryngeal TB represented 0.79% of all TB cases during the study period.
• The male-to-female ratio was 9.2:1, with a mean age of 52 years and 9 months.
• The true vocal cords and epiglottis were the most commonly affected laryngeal sites.
• Treatment with rifampicin (R/AMP), isoniazid (INH), ethambutol (EMB), or streptomycin (SM) yielded satisfactory results.
• Two patients required surgical excision of laryngeal lesions, and three underwent tracheotomy.

Conclusions:

• Laryngeal tuberculosis predominantly affects middle-aged males and is associated with pulmonary disease.
• Early diagnosis and appropriate anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy are effective.
• Surgical intervention and tracheotomy may be necessary in select severe cases.