An unusual jaw manifestation leading to the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) has been known since ancient times to affect human race and is one of the 10 most common causes of death worldwide. It primarily involves lungs but can affect almost all the parts of the body. In the head-and-neck region, it can affect meninges, orbitomaxillary complex, zygoma, mandible, oral soft tissues, and regional lymph nodes either primarily or secondarily. In jaws, it manifests as tuberculous osteomyelitis. Tuberculous osteomyelitis of mandible accounts for about <2% of all skeletal TB. We present a case report of 39-year-old female patient who had a nontender mild swelling on the left mandible for 3 years following the extraction of her lower left first molar tooth for which we performed an incisional biopsy from the corresponding alveolar bone. The histopathological examination revealed it to be tuberculous osteomyelitis. On further examination with chest X-ray and tuberculin test, it was diagnosed that the patient had chronic pulmonary TB.

Keywords

• Osteomyelitis
• tooth extraction
• tuberculosis