Primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: a case report

Mild symptoms related to the nasopharynx can be easily overlooked, and may present themselves as serious medical conditions at a later stage. When symptoms become chronic, nasolaryngoscopy is used to rule out serious medical conditions such as malignancies. Nasolaryngoscopy is easy to learn, safe, painless, convenient to perform, and readily accepted by patients. Furthermore, it also allows direct visualization and evaluation of both the lesion and the nasopharynx and larynx anatomy, under local anesthesia. It thus allows for early diagnosis and treatment in a primary care center by reducing unnecessary referral [1, 2].

The occurrence of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is rare even in areas where tuberculosis is endemic. Our literature search for primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis revealed that very few cases have been published thus far [3‐5]. Here, we report a case of rare primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis, promptly evaluated by nasolaryngoscopy.

A 78-year-old woman presented with postnasal drip and a cough of one month duration. There were no cervical lymph nodes palpable. General symptoms of tuberculosis (evening rise fever and weight loss) were not observed. Endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx revealed irregular mucosal thickening of the right lateral and posterior wall of the naso (epi)-pharynx, which was covered with yellow discharge presenting as postnasal drip (Fig. 1a). Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated enhanced soft tissue area in the right lateral and posterior wall of the nasopharynx (Fig. 1b). Bacteriological examination from a nasopharyngeal swab revealed that staining for acid-fast bacilli was positive (Gaffky-1) and the quenching probe PCR test was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, QuantiFERON-TB Gold was positive. Histopathological examination from the thickening nasopharyngeal mucosa revealed granulomatous formation with caseous necrosis (Fig. 1c). Ziehl-Nielsen staining directly could detect acid-fast bacilli (Fig. 1d). Indigenous bacterial flora was only detected in sputum culture. Chest X-ray and CT scan ruled out the pulmonary tuberculosis (Fig. 1e and f). Base on these findings, we diagnosed it as primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. After six months anti-tuberculous therapy, the patient’s symptoms (sore throat and postnasal drip) had completely disappeared. Repeat bacteriological examination of the nasopharyngeal swab at the same time was negative for acid-fast bacilli. The quenching probe PCR test was also negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nasolaryngoscopic examination and CT image after 6 months post therapy revealed a normal nasopharynx with complete resolution of the lesion (Fig. 1g and h).

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is commonly associated with cervical lymphadenopathy [3, 4]. In the present case, we did not find any palpable or enlarged lymph nodes on clinical and CT scan examination, respectively. Although nasopharyngeal tuberculosis may present itself in many ways, signs and symptoms can be missed easily if they are less obvious [5]. Such symptoms in the form of chronic cough and postnasal drip were found in the present case, which is rather unusual. We wish to highlight the fact that considering the age of the patient and chronicity of symptoms, this case could have been diagnosed much earlier if a nasolaryngoscopy had been performed. As early as 1988, a study of nasolaryngoscopy has shown that family physicians can perform the procedure with a mean examination time of 4.6 min with good patient tolerability [6]. Although, primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is extremely rare [4], we recommend endoscopic examination by family physicians at primary care centers for patients with chronic nasopharyngeal complaints.