Tuberculosis of the larynx masquerading as carcinoma

A patient with laryngeal and pulmonary tuberculosis is described. The similarity between the clinical presentation and gross appearance of laryngeal carcinoma and tuberculosis in this patient and others reported in the literature is emphasized. Laryngeal biopsy is necessary to establish the correct diagnosis, but this must be done only after the proper precautions are taken to reduce the risk of infection to the physician performing the biopsy. Examination of the chest x-ray and acid-fast stain of the sputum are rapid and highly reliable screening tests for laryngeal tuberculosis.