Abstract

Dr. Ghizlan El Amri*

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Tuberculosis of the parotid gland is a rare condition, even in endemic countries. There are varied clinical presentations making diagnosis difficult. Most of the reported cases have been diagnosed after surgery. We report a case of parotid tuberculosis in a immunocompetent patient presenting as parotid abscess and discuss diagnosis difficulties. Case report: A 53-year-old female presented to the emergency with left parotid abcess. Diagnosis suspicion was based on family history of tuberculosis, first clinical presentation mimicking a neoplasm, evolution to parotid abcess and fistulization. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic study after abcess drainage. The patient was succesfully treated by antitubercular drugs. Conclusion: Although rare, tuberculosis should be kept in mind and considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with a solitary tumor in the parotid gland in order to avoid unnecessary surgery. In the other hand early diagnosis avoid the evolution to abcess and fistulization imposing surgical treatment and morbidity related to hospitalization, scar and risk of facial paralysis.