Laryngeal tuberculosis: CT findings

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CT findings of laryngeal tuberculosis (TB).

CT scans, laryngoscopic examinations, and chest radiographs of 12 patients (21-63 years old) with histologically (n = 8) or bacteriologically (n = 4) confirmed laryngeal TB were retrospectively reviewed.

Bilateral diffuse thickening of the vocal cords and diffuse thickening and increased density of the aryepiglottic folds and paralaryngeal tissues were present in all patients. Diffuse thickening of the epiglottis was observed in seven patients. In four patients, a focal mass was noted in the anterior portions of the vocal cords (n = 3) or tip of the epiglottis (n =1). Destruction or sclerosis of cartilage was not found. Subglottic extension of the lesion was suspected in only one patient. Enlarged cervical lymph nodes were found in five patients. On laryngoscopic examinations, swelling of the vocal cords (n = 12) or epiglottis (n = 6) was present in all patients and was bilateral in nine patients. Vocal cord mobility was impaired in only one patient. Radiographic findings consistent with active pulmonary TB were present in all patients.

Although the CT appearances of laryngeal TB are not specific, the possibility of laryngeal TB should be raised when bilateral and diffuse laryngeal lesions are encountered without destruction of the laryngeal architecture in patients with pulmonary TB.