Epiglottic tuberculosis: Differential diagnosis and treatment - Case report and review of the literature

A case of a 40-year-old man with tuberculous involvement of the epiglottis suffering from unsuspected pulmonary tuberculosis is described. The larynge al Lesions were primarily considered to be highly suspicious for a neoplast ic process rather than an infectious one. After diagnosis, the patient was treated according a standard protocol and followed up for a period of 2 yea rs. He is still free of disease. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, path ological findings. and therapy of the condition are described. The differen tial diagnosis and management of epiglottic tuberculosis are reviewed and d iscussed. Even though these cases are rare, otorhinolaryngologists should k eep in mind the possibility of tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis o f laryngeal tumors, as the incidence of tuberculosis in developed countries is steadily increasing.