Laryngeal cancer presenting similarly as laryngeal tuberculosis: a near missed diagnosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) and malignancy are global threats and have claimed millions of lives worldwide. TB is a preventable and curable disease prevalent in developing countries. It is well known to be a diagnostic chameleon and often mimic malignancy. Laryngeal TB is an extremely rare form of TB and has many similarities to laryngeal carcinoma. This case report highlights the importance of diagnostic biopsy in a 57-year-old gentleman with characteristic presenting features of laryngeal TB that is persistent hoarseness and haemoptysis. He was investigated and treated for pulmonary TB however his laryngoscopy biopsy revealed to be laryngeal carcinoma. Based on this case report, it is shown that malignancy could have easily been missed had a presumptive diagnosis of laryngeal TB been made initially. Nevertheless, when evaluating dysphonia in a patient, while it is important to consider laryngeal carcinoma, laryngeal TB must also not be overlooked as possibility, especially in endemic areas.