Open AccessGingival tuberculosis
Author(s) -
Bharti Vipin,
Pankaj Khurana,
Sanjeev Jain
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of indian society of periodontology (print)/journal of indian society of periodontology (online)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.309
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 0975-1580
pISSN - 0972-124X
DOI - 10.4103/0972-124x.55836
Subject(s) - medicine , tuberculosis , mycobacterium tuberculosis , gingival enlargement , differential diagnosis , histopathological examination , oral cavity , pathology , disease , dermatology , dentistry
Tuberculosis is a chronic specific granulomatous disease and a major cause of death in developing countries. The clinical presentation of tuberculosis lesions of oral cavity varies widely, including ulceration, diffuse inflammatory lesions, granulomas and fissures. Oral lesions usually appear as secondary to primary tuberculosis infection elsewhere, although primary infection of the oral mucosa by Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been described. We report a case of tuberculosis of gingiva, manifesting as gingival enlargement. Diagnosis was based on histopathological examination, complete blood count, X-ray chest and immunological investigations with detection of antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculous therapy was carried out for over six months. This case report emphasizes the need for dentists to include tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of various types of gingival enlargements.