Clinico-pathological profile of tuberculosis of the head and neck region from a tertiary care teaching hospital

Tuberculosis of the head and neck region may often mimic malignancy and misdiagnosed which leads to an unnecessary delay in diagnosis. Better understanding of this topic would help us to make early diagnosis thus timely initiation of treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinico-pathological profile of various types of tuberculosis of the head and neck region. Retrospective cohort of patients with confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis of the head and neck region during formed the study population. Histologically proven cases either by Excision biopsy or FNAC were included in this study. Study tools were records of the patients such as information from MRD department and records from histopathological section. Data of 45 patients was analyzed in this study. Gender wise, 21 (46.7%) were males and remaining 24 (53.3%) were females. All the patients were negative for HIV. Majority (28, 62.2%) of cases were in the age group of 15-24 years followed by 7 subjects (15.6%) in the age group of 0-14 years. Cervical tubercular adenitis was most commonly observed lesion seen in 39 (86.7%) subjects followed by Laryngeal tuberculosis (5, 11.1%) and Tubercular otitis media with mastoiditis seen in 1 (2.20%) patient. Level II cervical nodes were the most common region affected either in isolation or as multiple nodes. FNAC was diagnostic in 75% cases. The clinical presentation of tuberculosis of the head and neck region can be varied and misleading. It is therefore essential for the clinician to be aware of the condition and consider it in their differential diagnosis.