Common site for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is lung, but any site may be secondarily or even primarily be involved. Tuberculosis in India is an important disease of public health importance. Recent data have shown a decline in tuberculosis burden of both prevalence and mortality in India. [1] Tuberculosis of the larynx is usually secondary to tuberculosis elsewhere in the body and classically it develops due to direct spread of mycobacterium tubercle bacilli to the larynx from contaminated sputum or due to hematogenous spread. Primary laryngeal tuberculosis is a very rare entity and it results from inhaled tubercle bacilli settling directly on the larynx. Incidence of laryngeal tuberculosis is less than 1% of all cases of tuberculosis. [2]

A 35-year-old female (house wife) presented in the outpatient department of ENT, and head and neck surgery with the chief complaints of foreign body sensation of throat for six months and progressive hoarseness of two month's duration. There was no associated history of cough, chest pain, hemoptysis, dyspnea and stridor. The patient was a non-smoker and non-alcoholic. There was also no history of intake of drugs or steroid inhalation.

On general examination, the patient’s general condition was good and mild pallor was present. Clinical systemic examination did not reveal any abnormality in the respiratory, cardiovascular and gastro-intestinal system.

On local examination, indirect laryngoscopic examination showed a growth involving the supraglottis. There were no palpable lymph nodes in the neck. Examination of the ears and nose with para nasal sinuses (PNS) did not reveal any abnormality. In the routine examination of blood, hemoglobin estimation was 8.7 g/dL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 15 mm was seen at the end of first hour (AEFH). Total leucocyte count of 8600 per high powered field and differential leukocyte count of neutrophils 60%, lymphocytes 30%, monocyte 8% and eosinophil count of 2% was seen. Liver function tests were normal. Chest X-ray posterior anterior view showed normal lung fields. Direct fiberoptic laryngoscopy examination showed a polypoidal growth with hyperemia involving the epiglottis and bilateral aryepiglottic folds. (Figure 1) Bilateral vocal cord mobility was normal. Multiple punch biopsies were taken from the polypoidal growth. Ultrasonography of the abdomen did not reveal any findings suggestive of abdominal tubercular lesion. Serological test for human immunodeficiency virus was non reactive. The histopathological examination showed features of necrotizing inflammatory infiltrate lined by hyperplastic squamous epithelium and epithelioid granuloma with Langhan’s giant cells. (Figure 2A–B) Ziehl–Neelsen staining on the tissue section showed the presence of scanty acid-fast bacilli. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was done for collection of bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and examination for acid-fast bacilli. On microscopic examination of the bronchioalveolar lavage fluid, acid-fast bacilli were not seen by Ziehl–Neelsen staining. The diagnosis of primary laryngeal tuberculosis was confirmed. The patient was treated with anti-tubercular therapy for six months.

Primary tuberculosis of the larynx is a very rare entity and usually it is secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. Few cases of primary tuberculosis of larynx have been reported in literature in the recent past. [3] [4] In the present case, laryngeal tuberculosis is a primary lesion, as no primary foci were detected anywhere else in the body by clinical, radiological including chest X-ray, ultrasonography of the abdomen, Computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and examination for acid-fast bacilli in the bronchioalveolar lavage fluid. It has been reported in immune competent individual. [5] In the present case the patient was immune competent. Nishike et al. reported in a series of 15 cases that it commonly affects males more than females and the mean age of presentation is 51 years of age. [6] In the present case the patient is female and age of patient is 35 years, which is an unusual presentation. Laryngeal tuberculosis may present in varying form, from erythematous lesion to ulceration and growth resembling carcinoma. [7] Laryngeal tuberculosis may be categorized into four different types, as proposed by Shin et al. These are categorized into the following types-polypoidal in 22.7%, ulcerative in 40.9%, non-specific in 27.3% and ulcero-fungative growth in 9.1% of laryngeal tuberculosis cases. [8] In the present case it presented as a polypoidal growth. It should be always borne in mind that tuberculosis and carcinoma may co-exist in the same patient, so complete work-up for malignancy must be carried out before diagnosing as laryngeal tuberculosis without associated carcinoma. Laryngeal tuberculosis is the most common polypoidal lesion of larynx and laryngeal tuberculosis is the most common ENT manifestation of tuberculosis. [9] Earlier, it was seen that laryngeal tuberculosis frequently involves the posterior part of larynx, particularly in bed ridden patients and in whom sputum got collected in the inter arytenoid region. Fernandes et al. reports the most common part to be involved is the vocal cord (50–70%), and least affected is the epiglottis. [10] In this case the involved site is the epiglottis and bilateral aryepiglottic folds (supraglottic larynx) and the patient had progressive hoarseness of two month’s duration and there was laryngoscopic finding of a growth involving the supraglottis, this led to the suspicion of a supraglottic carcinoma. Patients presenting with hoarseness without any pulmonary symptoms in endemic regions, laryngeal tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis. The response to anti-tubercular treatment for laryngeal tuberculosis is remarkable. Patients with less severe form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis like laryngeal tuberculosis; a six-month treatment with anti-tubercular therapy is sufficient. [11] There was complete remission of symptoms and signs of the patient on follow-up after six months from starting of the anti-tubercular therapy. Direct laryngoscopic examination and biopsy from the laryngeal lesion is mandatory to establish a definitive diagnosis. Histopathological examination can differentiate between a tuberculosis and malignancy.

Awareness of existence of isolated primary laryngeal tuberculosis is important especially in endemic areas. In case of diagnosis of laryngeal tuberculosis all efforts including clinical, radiological and examination for acid-fast bacilli in the bronchoalveolar lavage should be made to look for an active or inactive lesion elsewhere in the body before diagnosing as primary laryngeal tuberculosis.

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