Nasopharyngeal Tuberculosis: An Analytical Study and Report on 15 Cases

Objective:To improve diagnostic rate of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis.Method:15 cases of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis were retrospectively analyzed and the clinical features were studied . Only three cases had known the previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis (20.0%). Cervically lymphadenopathy was the most common presenting symptom in our series (8 cases 53.3%) . 11 cases were diagnosed as nasopharyngeal malignant tumors by mistake at the beginning (73.3%) . Result: Anti-tuberculous medical treatment was successfuful in all patients after follow up from 6 months to 2 years. Conclusion: It was made a mistake in diagnosis easily between the nasopharyngeal tuberculosis and the nasopharyngeal malignant tuberculous . When cervical lymphadenopathy is found , nasopharyngeal malignant tuberculous is the most important disease in differential diagnosis for their similar clinical features . Systematic antituberculosis therapy combined with nasopharyngeal irrigation (5% streptomycin) can improve the efficacy of treatment.