Base of tongue tuberculosis: A case report

Introduction: tuberculosis is an infectious disease that has displayed increasing incidence in the last decades. it is estimated that up to 20% of tuberculosis cases affect extra-pulmonary organs. in the ent area,soft palate and tongue are the least probable locations. case report: a 62-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and treatment with corticosteroids and adalimumab,developed a foreign body sensation in the pharynx accompanied by a sore throat and halitosis. the laryngoscopy with a 70 degree rigid telescope showed an ulcerated hypertrophic lesion in the right vallecula of about 2-3cm in the base of the tongue. acid-alcohol resistant bacilli were found positive for m. tuberculosis,through the ziehl neelsen method and löwenstein culture the patient was treated with tuberculostatic medication. conclusion: tb is a possible diagnosis when in the presence of an ulcerated lesion at the base of the tongue,accompanied by sore throat,dysphagia,or foreign body sensation.