Ipsilateral Oropharyngeal and Cervical Lymph Node Tuberculosis Simulating Oropharyngeal Malignancy with Regional...

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important contagious disease and a major public health problem globally. It may manifest as pulmonary TB or primary or secondary extrapulmonary TB. Primary oropharyngeal TB is very rare and may mimic presentation of oropharyngeal malignancy especially in the negative initial TB workup.

We would like to highlight a case of an elderly man presented with ipsilateral oropharyngeal mass and cervical lymph node (LN) enlargement, mimicking oropharyngeal malignancy with regional LN metastasis.

History of TB contact, poor oral hygiene, and poor immunity should alert the possibility of oropharyngeal TB. Involvement of ipsilateral oropharyngeal structure and cervical LN may simulate presentation of oropharyngeal malignancy with regional LN metastasis. Tissue biopsy for histopathological examination and appropriate staining is considered gold standard for diagnosis of TB and excluding malignancy. It is an important communicable disease, thus notification and referral to infectious disease team should be done without delay.