Primary Tubercular Sialadenitis - A Diagnostic Dilemma.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Salivary gland tuberculosis is an uncommon manifestation of tuberculosis, even in endemic regions.
• It can arise from systemic spread or primary infection, often presenting complex clinical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the diverse clinical presentations of primary tubercular sialadenitis.
• To outline diagnostic investigations and their limitations in resource-constrained settings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records for seven patients with primary tubercular sialadenitis.
• Inclusion of history, physical examination, imaging, cytology, microbiology, and histopathology data.

Main Results:

• The most frequent presentation was a painless glandular mass (4/7 patients).
• Fine needle aspiration cytology yielded a diagnosis in 71.4% of cases; mycobacterial culture was positive in 28.6%.

Conclusions:

• Recommend initial investigations including cytology, acid-fast bacilli staining, and mycobacterial culture for suspected cases.
• Emphasize the importance of high suspicion, early diagnosis, and prompt anti-tuberculosis therapy for successful outcomes.