Primary tuberculosis of the tongue: a rare nodular presentation

Primary oral tuberculosis: A case series of a rare disease

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the most life-threatening infectious diseases, resulting in high mortality in adults and is commonly found in developing countries. Lung is primarily affected while extrapulmonary TB is rarely encountered. Oral lesions, although rare, can be seen in both primary and secondary stages of TB. Primary oral TB may present a diagnostic challenge as its clinical features can be nonspecific that mimics other diseases and is usually misdiagnosed. Thus, it is very important to be aware and be highly suspicious of oral TB especially in endemic area. We share 4 such cases of primary oral TB with uncommon presentations (two on the gingiva, one on the palate and one on the tongue) The diagnosis was made by histopathological examination, polymerase chain reaction analysis and Mantoux test. They were successfully treated with antituberculous treatment. In secondary TB, the oral manifestations may be accompanied by lesions in the lungs, lymph nodes or in any other part of the body and can be detected by a systemic examination.

Primary oral tuberculosis on the tongue mimicking squamous cell carcinoma

Tuberculosis is chronic granulomatous disease with rare oral manifestations. But if so are overlooked by most of the health care professionals. Clinically, most of the times, a tuberculous ulcer may mimic an ulcer of malignant origin and may be misdiagnosed. So, keeping in mind the etiology and the nature of the ulcer, it should be differentially diagnosed and a histopathological examination should only confirm the final diagnosis of the ulcer.

Tuberculosis of the head and neck - epidemiological and clinical presentation

INTRODUCTION

The aim of our retrospective study was to review the clinical and epidemiological presentation of head and neck tuberculosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed the history of 73 patients with head and neck tuberculosis hospitalized in the Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of Warsaw, between 1983 and 2009.

RESULTS

We found that 26 (35.6%) patients presented with lymph node tuberculosis, 20 (27.4%) with laryngeal tuberculosis, 10 (13.7%) with oropharyngeal tuberculosis, 9 (12.3%) with salivary gland tuberculosis, 3 (4.1%) with tuberculosis of paranasal sinuses, 3 (4.1%) with aural tuberculosis, and 2 (2.7%) with skin tuberculosis in the head and neck region. Within the group of patients with lymph node tuberculosis in 15 cases there were infected lymph nodes of the 2(nd) and 3(rd) cervical region and in 11 infected lymph nodes of the 1(st) cervical region. In 5 cases of laryngeal tuberculosis there was detected coexistence of cancer. Oropharyngeal tuberculosis in 7 cases was localized in tonsils, where in 1 case coexisting cancer was diagnosed. Chest X-ray was performed in all cases and pulmonary tuberculosis was identified in 26 (35.6%) cases.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that tuberculosis still remains a problem and must be taken into consideration in the diagnostic process. The coincidence of tuberculosis and cancer is remarkable in the head and neck region.

Tuberculosis of oral cavity: a series of one primary and three secondary cases

Tuberculosis is one of the most common diseases in India resulting in significant mortality and morbidity. The disease has varied presentations. The clinical spectrum ranges from usual primary tuberculosis of the lungs to the very rare of oral cavity. We are reporting four cases of tuberculosis of oral cavity one of which is primary and three are secondary. All the patients were adult males. The primary tuberculosis case was sputum and biopsy negative for acid fast bacilli. All the secondary oral tuberculosis cases showed cavitary lesions in lungs and were sputum positive for acid fast bacilli however the biopsies were negative for the same.

Tuberculosis of the tongue clinically masquerading as a neoplasm: a case report and literature review

Tuberculosis of the tongue is a very rare event even in areas and countries in which tuberculosis is endemic. The disease can present itself in a variety of clinical appearances, most of which may mimic malignant lingual neoplasms clinically. In this case, we present a patient who initially complained of an ulcerated lingual swelling, which was suspected to be a squamous cell carcinoma on clinical examination. In addition, the diagnosis was missed on the first and initial biopsy as it was not representative of the lesion. The diagnosis of lingual tuberculosis was made by histopathology on a second biopsy. In this article, we described the clinicopathological features of tuberculous glossitis with a comparison between our case and other similar reported cases in addition to a literature review.

Tubercular ulcer: mimicking squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa

Tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that rarely affects oral cavity. Tuberculous lesions of the oral cavity are frequently overlooked in the differential diagnosis of oral lesions. The oral clinical presentation of tuberculosis may take many forms as ulcers, nodules, tubercular fissure, tubercular papilloma and tuberculomas. Diagnosis is confirmed by histopathology.