[Current aspects of laryngeal tuberculosis: a report of four cases].

OBJECTIVE

Laryngeal tuberculosis is a rare condition. This new clinical pattern of tuberculosis should be recognized by clinicians.

METHODS

We report our experience with four cases of laryngeal tuberculosis.

RESULTS

The principal differences in the disease pattern are an increase in the number of cases of primary laryngeal tuberculosis without any evident pulmonary involvement and the declining number of pseudotumor forms with an larger number of nonspecific laryngeal localizations.

CONCLUSION

Tuberculosis should be entertained as a possible diagnosis in patients with nonspecific laryngeal disease. The diagnosis is confirmed by identification of granulomatous inflammation and acid-fast bacilli. New culture techniques and molecular biology methods such as polymerase chain reaction allow early identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.