Subglottic tuberculosis: a case report

Granulomatous disorders of the larynx can take on many forms and usually represent the end stage of chronic disease. In the past, laryngeal granulomas were much more prevalent primarily because of the frequency of tuberculosis. Seldom is the larynx the site of origin for granulomatous disease, but it is usually a manifestation of a pulmonary entity such as histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, sarcoidosis, or tuberculosis. The actual diagnosis is frequently arrived at while trying to rule out carcinoma. Laryngeal tuberculosis, although rare in the United States, remains the most common granulomatous disease of the larynx. Its increasing incidence has paralleled the diminished incidence of tuberculosis in the general population. Specific clinical characteristics for diagnosis are few and diagnosis is arrived at through a high index of suspicion and biopsy. When biopsy is carried out, adequate tissue should be obtained for both histological sections, cultures, and sensitivities.