Tubercular osteomyelitis of the mandible in a young female

Abstract

A 16-year-old female presented with a 6-month history of a gradually increasing swelling of the left side of her face. A panoramic radiographic view of the mandible showed diffuse radiolucency in the ramus of the mandible with a loss of cortication on the superior and anterior portion of the condyle. The computed tomography (CT) scan revealed destruction of the mandibular bone and a large retromandibular and inferior temporal fossa mass with areas of breakdown. The biopsy was consistent with tubercular osteomyelitis. Antitubercular therapy resulted in a marked reduction of the size of the swelling over a 9-month period.

Keywords

• Tuberculosis
• Mandible
• Osteomyelitis