A case of tuberculous otitis media with nasopharyngeal tuberculosis

Abstract

The early diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media, the number of cases of which has been decreasing in recent years, is desirable, as tubercle bacilli are transmitted via air; however, an accurate diagnosis can often be time-consuming. We herein report a case of tuberculous otitis media that was difficult to diagnose. The case was a 76-year-old man who started conservative treatment for chronic otitis media, but his improvement was poor, so his intractable otitis media was investigated closely; however, a definitive diagnosis was not reached. Tubercle bacillus was detected in the white moss-like lesion that appeared in the nasopharynx, leading to the diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media. By examining the factors that made the diagnosis difficult in this case, it was considered that an earlier diagnosis would have been possible.