Objective: To discuss the challenges in diagnosing and managing a
patient with an anterior neck mass and dysphonia of tuberculous origin.
Study Design: Case Report
Setting: Tertiary Private Hospital
Patient: A 59-year-old Filipino female with a chief complaint of
dysphonia.
Clinical Summary: The patient presented with dysphonia, leading to a
Flexible Nasopharyngolaryngoscopy revealing immobility of the right true
vocal cord, adequate glottic opening, and spindle-shaped glottic
closure. Ultrasonography identified multiple nodules and cervical lymph
nodes. A fine needle aspirate biopsy yielded Bethesda Category III
results, indicating atypia with undetermined significance. Subsequently,
the patient underwent total thyroidectomy and excision of the right
paratracheal mass, with a rush frozen section showing chronic
granulomatous inflammation and no tumor. Histopathological analysis
confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection and chronic
granulomatous lymphadenitis of tuberculous origin. After completing 6
months of anti-tuberculous treatment, the patient showed clinico-
radiological improvement but did not recover from recurrent laryngeal
nerve injury.
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