[Laryngeal tuberculosis. A rare, but important differential diagnosis to chronic laryngitis].

A middle-aged native Danish man became aphonic with chronic laryngitis. The symptoms persisted despite antibiotic treatment, and chest X-ray disclosed a central pulmonary infiltrate. Histopathology on specimens from the larynx and lung and microscopy and culture of the sputum revealed primary lung tuberculosis with spread to the larynx. At presentation, laryngeal tuberculosis often mimics non-specific chronic laryngitis or laryngeal carcinoma. It should be suspected when the clinical course is unusual. Tuberculosis may develop in the absence of risk factors.