Primary tuberculous gingival enlargement: a rare entity.

Area of Science:

• Oral Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Pathology

Background:

• Oral tuberculosis is rare due to effective drug therapy.
• Primary gingival tuberculosis typically presents as an ulcer.
• Gingival enlargement is an unusual presentation of oral tuberculosis.

Observation:

• A case of primary tuberculosis presenting solely as gingival enlargement is reported.
• The patient's condition was diagnosed using histopathology, blood counts, PCR, and antibody detection for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Other causes of gingival enlargement, including drugs, leukemia, fungal infections, and sarcoidosis, were excluded.

Findings:

• The diagnosis of primary gingival tuberculosis was confirmed through multiple diagnostic methods.
• Treatment involved 6 months of antitubercular therapy followed by surgical excision of the remaining enlargement.
• A 1-year follow-up showed no recurrence of the gingival enlargement.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of gingival enlargement.
• Dentists play a vital role in the early detection of oral tuberculosis.
• Prompt diagnosis and treatment can lead to successful outcomes and prevent recurrence.