Tuberculosis of the Nasopharynx Its Frequent Incidence and Clinical Significance

1. There are many unsolved problems pertaining to the pathology and pathogenesis of human tuberculosis, and this is especially true of tuberculosis of the nasopharynx. 2. Tuberculosis of the nasopharynx, in our opinion, probably occurs more frequently than tuberculosis of the larynx, at least in autopsy specimens, and that fact was brought out in our pathologic study. 3. In 24 specimens of subjects who expired from pulmonary tuberculosis, nasopharyngeal tuberculosis was demonstrated either grossly or histopathologically in 18, or 75 per cent. 4. There are two types of tuberculosis of the nasopharynx, the open or ulcerous, and the closed which is discernible only by microscopic examination. 5. It is reasonable to assume that the nasopharynx may be the persistent source of reinfection of the lungs. 6. Since the detection of tuberculosis of the nasopharynx is as important to the general clinician as to the rhinolaryngologist, a plea is made for all routine examinations to include a thorough investigation of the nasopharyngeal cavity.