A rare association of tonsillar tuberculosis and lichen scrofulosorum

Abstract

Abstract Background Both tonsillar tuberculosis and lichen scrofulosorum are sporadic presentations of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Lichen scrofulosorum commonly presents in children and young adults as lichenoid eruptions over the skin. Granulomatous inflammation of the tonsils, however, presents as non-specific sore throat and foreign body sensation in the throat. The concomitant presentation of the abovementioned tubercular manifestations has not been reported in the literature. Case presentation Herein, we report a case of an 11-year-old male patient who presented with a history of recurrent sore throat and ulcerative lesion over the tonsil. Systemic examination revealed multiple perifollicular eruptions over the trunk and back. The diagnosis was confirmed on histopathological findings of epithelioid cell granulomas with Langerhans giant cells following biopsy from the tonsil and skin lesions. Antitubercular therapy was initiated soon after. The patient responded to treatment as early as 6 weeks and was completely asymptomatic at 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion A diagnosis of granulomatous tonsillitis should alert the physician to the possibility of underlying systemic tuberculosis. In our case, coexistence of lichen scrofulosorum helped us to substantiate the diagnosis based on the biopsy report. Response to antitubercular agents is excellent and should be started at the earliest.