Head and neck tuberculosis associated to sarcoidosis: A case report

Abstract

The distinction between tuberculosis and sarcoidosis presents sometimes a clinical challenge. Their sequential occurrence in the same patient is uncommon. We present the case of a 42-year-old female with a proven diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis who has developed successively nasal tuberculosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis respectively after 10 and 14 months of antituberculosis treatment. The patient presented with bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Tuberculin skin test was negative. Chest radiography was normal. An excision biopsy was taken and histopathological examination established tuberculosis diagnosis. Therapy with antituberculosis drugs was started, and cervical lymphadenopathy showed progressive resolution. Subsequently, nearly 10 months after, the patient developed new cervical lymphadenopathies and nasal obstruction. Tuberculosis of the nasal mucosa was confirmed by biopsy. Antituberclosis bitherapy was enhanced by ofloxacin and ethambutol. Thoracic CT scan showed several nodular elements in both lungs, with bilateral enlarged mediastinal adenopathy. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed a lymphocytic alveolitis with a CD4/CD8 ratio of 5, consistent with the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Corticosteroid treatment, in form of oral prednisolone was introduced, 3 months after sarcoidosis diagnosis have been setteled; because of pulmonary fibrosis noticed on thoracic CT. Systemic corticotherapy was continued for a further period of 3 years, until all the lesions cleared out. The present case emphasizes the possible association between tuberculosis and sarcoidosis.