Primary pharyngeal tuberculosis presenting as a submucosal tumour

Abstract

We describe a rare case of primary pharyngeal tuberculosis without pulmonary involvement in which the lesion was thought to be a submucosal tumour with overlying intact mucosa. A 58-year-old male attended the outpatient ward due to a globus sensation in the throat of 2-month duration. A swelling of the posterior oropharyngeal wall was found. The lesion was thought to be a submucosal tumour on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Primary pharyngeal tuberculosis was confirmed by histopathological examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The patient underwent 26 weeks of treatment with anti-tuberculous agents. He has been followed up for 12 months without any signs of disease recurrence.