An interesting case of tonsillar tuberculosis in a 10-year-old boy

Abstract

Tuberculosis of the tonsils is a rare type of extra pulmonary tuberculosis. The secondary form is more common than the primary, usually caused by the contact with the infected sputum or saliva from a sputum smear positive case of tuberculosis. We report a primary form of tonsillar tuberculosis in 10-year-old boy, with no remote history suggestive of documented pulmonary tuberculosis. Local examination revealed Grade IV tonsillar hypertrophy and congestion of posterior pharyngeal wall. Management included, Coblation assisted adenotonsillectomy under general anaesthesia. Histopathological examination revealed features suggestive of chronic adenotonsillitis, multiple epithelioid granulomas with caseous necrosis, langhans type of giant cells with scant inflammatory infiltrate in the background.