Prevalence of oral lesions in tuberculosis: A cross sectional study

Tuberculosis (Tb) is a fatal infectious disease that primarily affects the pulmonary system and rarely occurs in other body organs including oral cavity. The aim of this study was to report all patients with primary manifestations of oral tuberculosis and to evaluate the clinical characteristics of oral tuberculosis lesions. All these patients were subsequently diagnosed with tuberculosis based on oral histological findings and referred for management and therapy.

Twelve patients with oral lesions from the year 2010 to 2018 were histologically diagnosed as having tuberculosis, who did not give any history of the disease, following surgical biopsy. Clinical symptoms, auxiliary examinations, treatments, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

Oral TB was found in all 12 patients; 8 males and 4 females, with male to female ratio 8:4. Involved oral sites included the angle of the mandible (one case), right mandibular molar region (two cases), left mandibular molar region (four cases), gingiva (three cases), buccal mucosa (one case), and the tongue (one case). Oral TB patients in this series ranged in the age group of 6-65 years. All the lesions were suggestive of primary tuberculosis. The appearance of the affected mucosa in oral TB was variable. The most common manifestation was ulceration and swelling of the mucosa.

TB should be considered in patients with oral ulcerations and swellings. A biopsy specimen for histological study, acid-fast stains, and cultures should be obtained for confirmation and differential diagnosis along with other conditions.