Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2003, 201 (2)

Case Report

Epiglottic Tuberculosis in a Patient Treated
with Steroids for Addison's Disease

EROL EGELI, FATIH OGHAN, MURAT ALPER,¹
UGUR HARPUTLUOGLU and ISMET BULUT²

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ¹Department of Pathology
and ²Department of Pneumology, Düzce Faculty of Medicine, University of Abant Izzet Baysal, Duzce, Turkey

Isolated epiglottic tuberculosis (TBC) is uncommon and has rarely been described. We report the case of a 40-year-old man with tuberculous involvement of the epiglottis and primary adrenal insufficiency. Endoscopic examination showed a severely swollen epiglottis with granulomatous and partially necrotic mucosa. The patient has been treated with glucocorticoids for four years due to primary adrenocortical insufficiency. We therefore assume that tuferculous involvement of epiglottis is due to the reactivation of pulmonary TBC. We also discuss differential diagnosis and management of epiglottic TBC and Addison's disease.

keywords —— epiglottic tuberculosis; primary adrenal insufficiency; glucocorticoids

© 2003 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2003, 201, 119-125

Address for reprints: Dr. Fatih Oghan, Abant Izzet Baysal Universitesi, Düzce Tip Fakultesi, Kulak Burun Bogaz Anabilim Dali, 81620, Konuralp, Duzce/Turkey.

e-mail: ugurharputluoglu@hotmail.com