Diagnostic dilemma in a patient with nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Tuberculosis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with a global total of about 10 million people falling ill with it in 2020. Until the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that may be either primary or secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis may be mistaken for nasopharyngeal carcinoma as both conditions may present with a nasopharyngeal mass and cervical lymph node enlargement. We present a case of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis who presented without any nasal or respiratory symptoms. The patient presented with a cervical lymph node enlargement and a nasopharyngeal mass was detected on nasal endoscopy. Fine needle cytology from the cervical node and the initial biopsy report from the nasopharyngeal mass were not confirmatory, causing a diagnostic dilemma. A repeat biopsy from the nasopharyngeal mass with the demonstration of caseating granuloma and acid-fast bacilli in the specimen pointed to the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. The patient responded well to the standard 6-month anti-tubercular regimen. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis may mimic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a repeat biopsy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.