Oral Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Oral and temporomandibular tuberculosis: A State-of-the-art literature review

“…In 26.8% sputum test was used, in 24.7% culture was used and in 24.7% purified protein derivative (PPD) or Mantoux test was used [23] . A biopsy of an ulcer present on the tongue may show intense granulomatous inflammatory features with small red rods of mycobacterial organisms, as well as epithelioid cells and giant cells of Langerhans [42] . An adherent gingival lesion biopsy may show fibrotic stroma containing inflammatory infiltrates, multinucleated giant cells and proliferating capillaries suggesting a nonspecific reactive lesion that helps to rule out a gingival malignancy [4] .…”

“…If the lesion does not improve, surgical excision and continuation of antituberculous chemotherapy are suggested [47][48] . An ulcerative lesion present on tongue may take up to one year to completely resolve [42] . The lesion on attached gingiva, such as palatal, may improve considerably after 20 days of oral systemic tuberculous treatment, taking three months for complete resolution 4 .…”

“…It can also come to affect the uvula, salivary glands, lymph nodes [9] . It may present on the tip of the tongue [42] or on its lateroventral surface [5] as an ulcer on the palatal gingiva as an extensive, erythematous, persistent lesion with a nodular, pebbly enlargement [4] . Oral manifestations are usually secondary to pulmonary changes [42] , however, cough, hemoptysis, fever or any other particular symptom of pulmonary tuberculosis is not necessarily present [4] .…”

“…It may present on the tip of the tongue [42] or on its lateroventral surface [5] as an ulcer on the palatal gingiva as an extensive, erythematous, persistent lesion with a nodular, pebbly enlargement [4] . Oral manifestations are usually secondary to pulmonary changes [42] , however, cough, hemoptysis, fever or any other particular symptom of pulmonary tuberculosis is not necessarily present [4] . The buccal mucosa frequently shows manifestations without presenting pulmonary signs at the same time (primary oral infection) [25,27] .…”

“…Both oral and temporomandibular lesions show various non-pathognomonic aspects [6,10,58,59] . Early identification and association of oral manifestations may provide timely diagnosis and early treatment of systemic tuberculosis [42] .…”